Who was the first African American public health nurse in the US?

• A. Jessie Sleet Scales
• B. Lillian Wald
• C. Mary Eliza Mahoney
• D. Sojourner Truth

Answer: (A)

Focusing on the emergence of public health nursing for African American communities, Jessie Sleet Scales is recognized as a pioneer who brought preventive care, home visiting, and health education to underserved Black populations during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Her work helped establish the practice of public health nursing within Black communities and influenced how care was delivered in these settings, paving the way for later developments in the field. Lillian Wald, while a founder of public health nursing and a key figure in advancing the field, was not African American. Mary Eliza Mahoney was the first African American registered nurse, but not specifically in public health nursing. Sojourner Truth was a prominent abolitionist and women's rights advocate, not a nurse. Thus, Jessie Sleet Scales is the figure highlighted for being the first African American public health nurse.