Lessons learned ... A tribute to a mentor

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Having just completed my PhD in nursing, I started my research career based on sage advice from a colleague: “Find the most knowledgeable nurse researcher and attach yourself to that person. Learn everything that you can from her experiences, and do anything that she asks you to do to assist her.” I had just returned to the Midwest and found Dr. Harriet Werley. I knew of her legendary status in nursing research circles and of her early successes in launching nursing research enterprises within schools of nursing, and I would have traveled anywhere to work with her. The fact that she was in the Midwest was a bonus. At the time, she was launching a new journal, Research in Nursing and Health (RINAH), one that was to be the second nursing research journal in the United States. But she also was organizing the Midwest Nursing Research Society (MNRS), through some “behind the scenes” with the Midwest Alliance in Nursing (MAIN). MNRS would later become one of the largest and most influential regional research societies in the country. I was fortunate that when I contacted Harriet and told her my plan (i.e., to learn everything I possibly could about nursing research development), she had the perfect project. She had been planning the Annual Review of Nursing Research (ARNR) Series and was looking for a co-editor. Without any hesitation, not knowing how the project would unfold, I volunteered my time and energy. We have just published the 20th volume of the ARNR series. In true Werley style, Harriet seeded the project and then turned it over to me to continue.

On Monday, October 14, 2002, Harriet Werley died, but she will live in our memories and in the collective nursing research community for all that she taught the members, together and individually. For me, Harriet was one of the most important women and mentors in my professional life. I learned much about nursing research, past, present, and future, from Harriet. But I also learned to take risks, to be a leader in pushing the discipline forward, and to mentor others. I launched Applied Nursing Research after extensive discussions with Harriet about the need, the issues, and the future promise of integrating nursing research and professional practice. What we now call evidence-based practice was the dream of Applied Nursing Research. Our mission continues to be to integrate practice and research, to take research to the “real world,” and to address the daily issues confronting the nurses in the practice communities, whether at the bedside or in the boardrooms. Our strength only comes from integrating our past and building our preferred future. We have been strengthened by the strong foundation laid by Harriet Werley. The research culture that Harriet build was one that remains strong. I know that many of my colleagues join in a tribute to Dr. Werley's legacy.