National Association of Hispanic Nurses
The National Association of Hispanic Nurses is a non-profit professional nursing organization in the United States, committed to ensuring high-quality health care delivery to Hispanic communities and the promotion of professionalism and excellence among bilingual and bicultural nurses.
History
The National Association of Hispanic Nurses was founded in 1975 by Ildaura Murillo-Rohde. The year before, at an American Nurses Association meeting, a group of Hispanic nurses had met regarding the feasibility of establishing an ANA Hispanic caucus. Though they did not affiliate with ANA, the group established the National Association of Spanish-Speaking Spanish-Surnamed Nurses in 1976. Murillo-Rohde incorporated NASSSN in Washington State in 1977 where, at that time, she was employed as Associate Dean of the School of Nursing at the University of Washington in Seattle. “I saw that I was the only Hispanic nurse who was going to Washington to work with the federal government, review research and educational grants…there was nobody else. I looked behind me and thought: ‘Where are my people?’ -Dr. Ildaura Murillo-Rhode.The group was renamed as the National Association of Hispanic Nurses in 1979. NAHN launched its official professional peer-reviewed publication, Hispanic Health Care International at the 27th Annual Conference held July 2002 in Miami, Florida. It was initially published by Springer Publishing, but is now published by SAGE Publishing since 2016. HHCI is a bilingual journal and is quarterly.
Mission
NAHN defines its mission as: ''“committed to advancing the health in Hispanic communities and to lead, promote and advocate the educational, professional, and leadership opportunities for Hispanic nurses.”''Leadership
National
Leadership at the National Association of Hispanic Nurses consists of: an Executive Board including a President, President-Elect, Immediate Past-President, Treasurer, and Secretary, the Board of Directors including the Executive Board plus five Board Members, and an Executive Director.Past Presidents:
1976-1979 Ildaura Murillo-Rohde, PhD, RN*, FAAN
1979-1980 Ildaura Murillo-Rohde, PhD, RN*, FAAN
1980-1982 Bertha Mujia, MSN, RN*
1982-1984 Hector Hugo Gonzalez, PhD, VR-RN
1984-1986 Henrietta Villaescusa, MPH, RN*
1986-1988 Henrietta Villaescusa, MPH, RN*
1988-1990 Janie Menchaca Wilson, PhD, RN
1990-1992 Janie Menchaca Wilson, PhD, RN
1992-1994 Sara Torres, PhD, RN, FAAN
1994-1996 Sara Torres, PhD, RN, FAAN
1996-1998 Antonia Villarruel, PhD, RN, FAAN
1998-2000 Carmen Portillo, PhD, RN, FAAN
2000-2002 Mary Lou de Leon Siantz, PhD, RN, FAAN
2002-2004 Nilda Peragallo, DrPH, RN, FAAN
2004-2006 Rev. Dr. Rudy Valenzuela, PhD, NP, FAANP, FAAN
2006-2008 Maria Tere Villot, BSN, RN
2008-2010 Norma Martinez-Rogers, PhD, RN, FAAN
2010-2012 Angie Millan, DNP, RN, FAAN
2012-2014 Jose Alejandro-White, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, MBA, CNE, CCM, FACHE, FAAN
2014-2016 Daniel Suarez, MA, RN, NYAM Fellow
2016-2018 Anabell Castro-Thompson, MSN, RN, ANP-C, FAAN, FAANP
2018-2020 Norma Cuellar, PhD, RN, FAAN
2020 Alana Cueto, MSN, RN, CNL
2021-2024 Adrianna Nava, PhD, MPA, RN
2024-2026 Veronica Vital, PhD, MSN, MLS, RN
Membership and Local chapters
NAHN is a 501 national nonprofit organization headquartered at 201 E. Main Street, Suite 810, Lexington, Kentucky 40507, USA. Membership is available in eight categories: General, Student, Emeritus, International, Nursing Affiliate, Affiliate, Corporate, and Group. Memberships benefit list: advocacy, continuing education, journal subscription, student support, events, and networking. There are approximately 3,200 active members, with about 46 chapters in 44 states.Leadership at the local level has shifted to mirror the national model. Instead of a Vice President, there is a President-Elect as well as the Immediate Past-President. This serves the function to maintain continuity and order as well as to ensure a smooth transition when electing new officials.
Advocacy and annual conference
NAHN empowers its members as advocates for Hispanic health through training and an annual Latino Leadership Institute and Hispanic Health Policy Summit in Washington, DC. The summit unites the Latino healthcare community to address health issues affecting the Hispanic population and propose possible solutions.Each summer, NAHN hosts a conference in which hundreds of nurses attend to discuss issues concerning the Hispanic community, share best evidence-based practices, and view exhibits from nurse researchers, nursing students, recruiters, nursing schools, non-governmental organizations such as the American Heart Association, and many research institutions from across the nation. Members in attendance participate in a community service project which during the 2015 conference was a rally to create over 10,000 meals to end world hunger through a partnership with Stop Hunger Now.
NAHN celebrated its 50th year on July 16–18, 2025, in Dallas, Texas, at the Westin Convention Center at Las Colinas. The annual event culminated with the scholarship and awards ceremony. NAHN nurses, students, researchers, and healthcare professionals gathered to gain knowledge, network, and commemorate 50 years of NAHN. The conference theme was “Familia, Cultura, Herencia: Cultivating The Legacy Of Hispanic Nursing Excellence and Transforming The Health Of Our Communities.”
Scholarships and Awards Recognition
NAHN awards academic scholarships to active members enrolled in accredited nursing programs. NAHN scholarships are awarded annually with varying amounts. NAHN has collaborated with strategic partners, educational partners, sponsors, corporate members, and corporate board members to over more than $200,000 in nursing scholarships. Several scholarships dedicated to supporting diversity in research, such as the Abbott Scholars Award. Another unique scholarship for NAHN members pursuing a PhD in Nursing is the Aguilar-Cuellar-Toben Research Grant award, granted to PhD students conducting either qualitative or quantitative research and who have advanced their project, as approved by the dissertation committee. Special awards are distributed annually, and the current awards are as follows:Latino Legacy Award
Nurse of the Year Award
Henrietta Villaescusa Community Service Award
Janie Menchaca Wilson Leadership Award
Ildaura Murillo-Rohde Award for Education Excellence: Griselle Batista, PhD, RN, CTN-A
Sarah Gomez Erlach Humanitarian Award
President's Award
Sigma Theta Tau Award
The Daisy Award for NAHN Chapters Advancing Health Equity: NAHN Michigan Chapter
The Daisy Award for NAHN Nurses Advancing Health Equity
Ambassador Award
Community partnerships
NAHN plays a role in connecting communities and healthcare professionals to Hispanic/Latino health issues; raising awareness and support for effective health policy and programs; promoting the nursing profession among Hispanics; and expanding community‐based interventions. One way they are engaging is through partnerships with other healthcare organizations, like the American Red Cross. In a recent announcement, the American Red Cross is partnering with NAHN to expand Latino health Outreach. “We look forward to growing our partnership with the Red Cross in our shared mission of promoting health education within our Hispanic communities,” said NAHN President Veronica Vital, PhD, MSN, MLS, RN. "Through this partnership, we can empower our communities to donate blood and save lives."Nahn has partnered with the Alzheimer's Association to increase education and community outreach to Hispanic communities and increase awareness of Alzheimer's disease. In 2025, the memories of My Grandfather, a "telenovela," and the debut and screening were marketed by both the Alzheimer's Association and NAHN via social media, email campaigns, and on their respective websites.