525640
research-article2014
TCNXXX10.1177/1043659614525640Journal of Transcultural NursingGraciela Cuellar
Editorial
The Legacy of Nelson Mandela:
Impact on Transcultural Health Care
Norma Graciela Cuellar1
On December 5, 2013, the world lost an iconic activist for
justice for all in our global society. Nelson Mandela was
known to many as a man who himself suffered extreme
injustice in his own life only to continue his own quest to
give justice to others. He fought for the eradication of rac-
ism. The liberation movements that he led, resulting in
imprisonment for 26 years, freed all the people of South
Africa. As a result of his determination and commitment, he
was the recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize and the US
Congressional Medal.
Mr. Mandela had a remarkable influence on all people
because of the way he led his own life. He inspired others
through his own actions – as a statesman, revolutionary, ethi-
cist, and liberal. Listening to him or reading his quotes or
speeches, it is easy to see how he was charismatic and moti-
vating to so many people in the world. After being impris-
oned for 26 years for his leadership in overthrowing the
system of apartheid in South Africa, he made it clear that he
wanted a society of forgiveness for the perpetrators of
apartheid.
“Hating clouds the mind. It gets in the way of strategy. Leaders
cannot afford to hate.”
Mr. Mandela always looked ahead at the possibilities –
doing what needed to be done. He valued relationships and
respected all persons as human beings. Mayo Angelou stated
“he showed us how liberating it is to forgive”. When she
spent time with him in Africa, she said “he had a compliment
to give to everybody, including my housekeeper and door-
man. It was amazing. A gentle giant, he was.”
Mr. Mandela also had a strong belief about health care
access for all, including the very poor. He believed that
everyone had the right to health care services, especially
reproductive health care. In 1996, his country adopted a new
Constitution that encouraged the improvement of quality of
life by eliminating poverty, illiteracy, homelessness, and dis-
ease. Mandela believed in human rights for everyone.
This is not an uncommon quest for all of us. We see the
injustices of inadequate health care in all countries. Yet, it
remains a problem. Why isn’t it getting better? How do we as
Journal of Transcultural Nursing
2014, Vol. 25(3) 217­
© The Author(s) 2014
Reprints and permissions:
sagepub.com/journalsPermissions.nav
DOI: 10.1177/1043659614525640
tcn.sagepub.com
transcultural health care providers continue to strive to make
health care access available for all? How do we make a dif-
ference? We should never give up on our quest to provide
excellent health care to all cultures and diverse groups. We
should remember great leaders, like Nelson Mandela, who
fought so hard for justice for all persons and believed in
health care access for all.
“What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is
what difference we have made to the lives of others that will
determine the significance of the life we lead.”
I am reminded of a nurse that I know who was a student
of mine. Tonya Kane received her DNP in 2012. Her goal
was not to become an educator, or a leader, or an administra-
tor, but to continue to serve her patients in the best way that
she can. As I encouraged her to publish, or go into leader-
ship, or continue her scholarship, she reminded me fre-
quently “I just want to be the best nurse I can be and stay in
my clinical setting.” She currently lives in Houston, TX
where she cares for the indigent and the homeless. She does
not do this for the money or the fame; rather she cares for
the people she provides services for. She loves what she
does – she is passionate about what she does. She goes to
her patients - under the bridges, in the dark alleys, in the
homeless shelters and she does this selflessly because she
believes all people deserve dignity and respect. Recently,
she told me she spent over 6 hours helping someone get on
Medicaid on a Saturday afternoon. I know Tonya is not the
only nurse who does this but I don’t think we have enough
nurses who do it. She exemplifies what Nelson Mandela
asked of all of us – to provide access to health care for all
and to treat all people with dignity and respect. Thank you
Tonya and all nurses who help the underserved, minority,
uninsured persons of the world.
1
University of AL, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA
Corresponding Author:
Norma Graciela Cuellar, University of AL, Box 870358, Tuscaloosa, AL,
USA.
Email: ncuellar@tcns.org