23-Year Nursing Career Dedicated to Saving Lives
Shawntay Harris of Killeen, Texas recently earned induction into the prestigious Academy of Emergency Nurses, becoming the first ever Black woman selected. Harris has dedicated the past 23 years of her nursing career to helping others, driven by a passion for saving lives.
She initially worked in emergency care before opening her own facility, Eminent CPR, in 2006. The training center teaches CPR and other critical safety skills on behalf of the American Heart Association and Emergency Nurses Association.
For her enduring impact on the emergency nursing field and selfless commitment to equipping community members with potentially lifesaving abilities, Harris now joins the distinguished Academy.
Academy Recognizes Top Nursing Contributors and Innovators
The selective Academy of Emergency Nurses honors nurses making substantial, lasting changes in emergency care and the overall healthcare system. Inductees must demonstrate visionary leadership benefiting the emergency nursing profession and associated professional organizations.
When first approached about potential induction, Harris questioned if she was sufficiently qualified. But realizing the immense honor of being the lone person of color, she resolved to embrace the history-making nomination.
“I will be making history if inducted,” Harris noted. The breakthrough opportunity to inspire future minority nurses outweighed any lingering self-doubts.
Training Center Uplifts and Empowers Nurses of Color
At Eminent CPR, Harris offers specialized professional development courses along with standard programs. But her influence stretches far beyond the classroom.
Harris aspires for her Academy induction to empower nurses of color. Seeing top Black nurses recognized helps erode limiting mindsets around achievement possibilities.
“It feels amazing to know that I’ve broken this ceiling so other nurses of color know they can, their work is great and exciting, has global impact, is sustainable, and they’ll see someone that looks like them,” Harris explained.
She fundamentally believes stronger diversity across healthcare teams leads to better patient outcomes.
Inspiring Trust and Communication Through Shared Identity
Harris maintains that patients experience improved health results “when treated by healthcare partners that look like them.” Studies confirm that patient-provider racial and ethnic concordance enhances relationship building.
With more nurses of color still drastically underrepresented in the medical hierarchy, Harris lands among the few serving as visible inspirations. Her Academy induction cements hard-earned credibility and influence to keep driving change from the top down.
After forging her own path through determination and compassion for over 20 years, Harris now clears the way for the next generation of minority nurses. She undoubtedly will continue leveraging her platform to provide world-class training, advocate for health equity, and motivate other history-making nurses.
