Mary McKenna Bailey, BSN, RN, CEN, of Pennsylvania

Mary McKenna Bailey is a legend. In more than 50 years as an emergency nurse, she challenged everyone to be the best and to give their best.

While she served as a leader and one who stood alone at times promoting emergency care, she was known to many as a friend, mentor and colleague. Bailey had a dramatic impact on the emergency nursing practice. She was particularly excellent in two areas: the development and dissemination of the first CEN exam and in her sustainability as a leader in the early years of trauma systems developments.

Bailey was known by many as a creative educator and mentor. As an educator, she stimulated critical thinking to increase learning as an entertaining speaker. In 1998, the Pennsylvania State ENA Council developed and named an award in her honor that recognize a nurse for their substantial contributions to the education and training of all involved in emergency care. It was quite a feat to develop this without her knowledge and recognize her with the first award.

Frequently, you would find Bailey in the background as she served as a mentor and supporter of nurses. As one of her sponsors stated, “In our state, we affectionately refer to her as ‘Mother Mary,’ as in the Beatles song. We value ‘Mother Mary calls to us – speaking words of wisdom.’”

She was a prominent recipient of several state and national awards, including BCEN’s Distinguished Certified Emergency Nurse Award in 1991; ENA’s 1993 Nurse Educator Award; the 1997 ENA Lifetime Achievement Award; and the 2000 Judith C. Kelleher Award. In 1992, she was the inaugural recipient of The Rita Celmer Award, Pennsylvania’s highest recognition. In 1998, the Pennsylvania Division of The American Trauma Society recognized her for statewide contributions in injury prevention.

Mary Mckenna Bailey, a colleague, leader, mentor, advocate and nurse – but more a friend and supporter of nurses for more than 50 years.