The power of Hispanic nurses in advancing health equity: The career of Henrietta Villaescusa

Abstract

There is increased national attention to the impact nurses can and should have in advancing health equity. Nurses of color have made important contributions in nursing and other sectors to this end, but their efforts remain invisible. To amplify the contribution of Latino nurses in advancing health equity, we use oral histories and supplemental records to examine the career of Henrietta Villaescusa, RN, FAAN to illuminate her impact across government, health, and nursing sectors in advocating for the health of Latino communities. She was skilled in community activism, political savvy, and developing and leading intersectoral networks to address and identify Hispanic health issues and strategies to address them. Her career serves as an exemplar to the importance of including and supporting diverse nurses in leading health equity efforts.