Dorothy Kelly and Mary Mullane: Footloose and fancy free

70+ AND GOING STRONG Dorothy Kelly and Mary Mullane: Footloose and Fancy Free "'Retirement beats working, hands father Kelly replied, " I f they cut the nursing experience." The American down--it's marvelous!" Dorothy donkey off and pasted it on top of the Journal of Nursing Company's first award to the Michigan Nurse was Kelly declared during GN's inter- ballot, I'd vote for him." view with her and her sister, Mary made when Dorothy edited that After Dorothy and Mary gradKelly Mullane. "I have no great de- uated in 1931 from Holy Name Hosstate bulletin. In 1955, when the Nasire to volunteer for anything. After pital School of Nursing in Teaneck, tional Council of Catholic Nurses working 50 years, what's wrong with New Jersey, their careers took dif- was recruiting an editor for Catholic lying back and just sitting for a bit?" ferent directions, Dorothy's into Nurse, its official publication, DoroDorothy asked. public health nursing, Mary's into thy won the appointment, moved to Washington, and edited the magaMary said that she has retired five nursing education. zine until the council was disbanded times. " M y most recent retirement "I liked every job I ever had," from a paid job was in 1978, from Dorothy said. "Can't imaginestayin 1970. my half-time position as executive ing five minutes in one I disliked. At that time Supervisor Nurse director of the American Association But once I was finished, I was fin- was about t0 be introduced, and Dorothy was recruited to be its editor. of'Colleges of Nursing." Since then, however, Mary has chaired the Again she moved, to Chicago, and American Pharmaceutical Associaedited the magazine from 1970 until tion's Task Force on Women, made her retirement in 1978. commencement addresses, and conWell-known to nurses nationwide" sulted on several grants. She still as an outspoken participant a t health-related meetings throughout writes two or three recommendations per week for faculty members who the '70s, Dorothy is best known for served when she was dean at two difher challenging editorials in Supervisor Nurse (now Nursing Manageferent colleges of nursing or for stuDOROTHY KELLY ment). A staunch advocate for nursdents she has taught. The sisters agreed that they are ing in its struggle for recognition as a now grateful for the things they ished. I never regretted leaving a job. distinct profession, she took on the don't have to worry about. "That's I really enjoyed being a public health American Medical Association and one of the advantages of aging," n u r s e - - P H N s are God's noblewom- 9 the American Hospital Association. Mary said, "and if you're smart, you e n - i t taught me a lot, it tempered An equally forceful advocate for don't let anybody lay guilt on you for me." nurses, she supported them in her not worrying. The profession needs She earned her baccalaureate at editorials as they battled for ecofresh blood. Besides, the problems Wayne State University and a mas- nomic security and standards of that have not been solved are the ter's degree in public health at Har- care. An independent thinker, Doroproblems we worked on all our lives. 9 She worked in the Detroit De- thy tweaked the tails of nursing's If we couldn't solve them in five department of Public Health for five sacred cows, never hesitating to cades, I don't think we can now." years and in the Montclair, New Jer- challenge either the American Dorothy and Mary share a condo- sey, Bureau of Public Health Nurs- Nurses' Association or the National minium in a Washington suburb, but ing, a combined agency, for two League for Nursing when she pertheir roots lie in New York City. ceived error in their policies. years. Fourth-generation Americans, "they Mary, too, is a prolific writer. Her Following three- and a-half years have vivid memories of growing up as a member of the Army Nurse articles have appeared in nursing, in a multigenerational household hospital, medical, and academic Corps at a field hospital in India where children were to be seen and during World War II, she became journals. She advanced from posnot heard, and where politics was a assistant director of the Detroit Vis- tions as instructor, assistant director constant topic. iting Nurse Association. There she of nursing service at Detroit's ReThey recall hearing their father practiced under Emilie Sargent, a ceiving Hospital, associate professor say to their grandfather, "Pop, if at Wayne State's College of Nursing leader in public health nursing. someone who couldn't speak English "I also loved being an editor," to dean and professor at the State ran on the Democratic ticket, I beDorothy said, "a job that let me University of Iowa's College of lieve you'd vote for him.'" Grandcombine some writing talent and my Nursing, from 1959 to 1962, and at 196 Geriatric Nursing May/June 1982