Louise Shores
Although Louise Shores EdD, RN now permanently calls Washington "home," she is somewhat of an "American Nomad," leaving her legacy and contributions in several states across the country. This is reflected in her education and throughout her career. "Traveler" Shores received her diploma from Oklahoma Baptist Hospital in Muskogee, Oklahoma, her BSN with Honors from Northwestern State College in Louisiana, her Masters degree in Nursing from the University of Washington in Seattle and her Doctorate in Education from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver BC.
In her more than 40 years of nursing, she has practiced in Oklahoma, Washington, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Oregon. Her career includes a wide variety of acute care clinical nursing practice, research and education positions – allowing her always to do what she loves most — mentoring and teaching others the art and science of nursing and promoting the contributions of professional nursing practice.
For nearly 20 years, Louise practiced in Seattle area hospitals in a variety of roles ranging from med-surg staff nurse, head nurse in ICUs and CCUs, OR supervisor, and Associate Director of Nursing and as a Clinical Instructor and Assistant Professor of Nursing at the University of Washington. She was an early proponent and advocate for advanced nursing practice roles and served as Director of the Nurse Practitioner Preparation, Placement and Evaluation Program of the Washington/Alaska Regional Medical Program in the mid-70's. Following completion of her Doctorate, Louise taught for three years at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and then served as Executive Director of the Illinois Nurses Association until 1994.
Louise has always been active at all levels of WSNA and ANA. A continuous member since 1963, she was President of the King County District Nurses Association from 1967 - 1971. She served on the WSNA Board of Directors from 1968-1970 and 1972-1974, was elected First Vice-President from 1974-1976 and as WSNA President from 1976-1979. Louise has always been a leader who could stand by her principles, give voice to the minority view and skillfully manage being in the "hotseat."
During her presidency she weathered the 1976 strike and its aftermath; began joint executive committee meetings between WSNA and the State Medical Association after they threatened to sue the Board of Nursing over prescriptive authority; facilitated more than 28 state-wide forums to debate the merits of the 1985 educational entry into practice proposal and successfully presided over the passage of a $55 WSNA dues increase! Her ability to lead others from conflict to collaboration was astounding! Champion, Mentor, Teacher, Role Model and Advocate are all terms used by others to describe Louise's leadership. In keeping with this, WSNA presented Louise with the ANA Honorary Membership award in 1979 for her outstanding leadership and contributions to WSNA.
Louise was a delegate to the ANA convention from1968 through 1984. Her ANA activities include chairing and serving on numerous committees before being twice elected to serve four years as Treasurer of ANA from 1980-1984. Judith Ryan, former ANA Executive Director commented on Louise's contributions as ANA Treasurer, "Louise helped craft the financial relationships between and among levels of the professional organization; between ANA and the Academy and the American Nurses' Foundation; between ANA and our pension and health benefits structures. She clearly understood and upheld right relationships between the membership organization and its appropriately arms-length Credentialing function and between the Credentialing functions and the broader profession. She also helped to shape a new for-profit ANA subsidiary. Louise always understood the economic interests of the profession – and upheld the right to act in that economic interest both within and outside of the historic collective bargaining framework. Louise's national contributions have been many and they are lasting." Louise also served for six years as Trustee and Treasurer of the American Nurses Foundation.
Throughout her career, Louise has been a community activist and agent for change – whether it was the civil rights movement of the 60's, women's rights of the 70's, educational reform in the 80's or health care reform in the 90's, Louise has worked diligently with coalitions, educational institutions, governmental agencies and others to raise social consciousness and improve the welfare of others.
Louise now lives in Vancouver Washington and works as Education Consultant to the Oregon State Board of Nursing, a role she has had for the past six years.