Barbara Nichols, the first Black president of the Wisconsin Nurses Association, has died at the age of 87.
Nichols served as president of the WNA from 1970 to 1972 at a time when few women of color held leadership positions in healthcare.
Nichols is credited with helping transform Wisconsin nursing while advocating for higher professional standards, equity and stronger representation across the profession.
Her leadership in Wisconsin paved the way for an even larger national milestone. In 1978, she became the first Black president of the American Nurses Association, where she served two terms and helped shape nursing policy during a pivotal period for the profession.
Before gaining national prominence, Nichols built much of her leadership career in Wisconsin after serving as a head nurse in the U.S. Navy Nurse Corps.
She worked at St. Mary’s Hospital in Madison and became a respected voice for nurses throughout the state, earning the trust of colleagues who elected her to lead the Wisconsin Nurses Association.
