Died 1956 | ||
Known for First black public health nurse in the United States | ||
Jessie Sleet Scales (1865–1956) was the first black public health nurse in the United States. Scales contributed to the development and growth of public health nursing in New York City and is considered by many to be a health nurse pioneer.
Biography
Scales was born in Stratford, Canada. She attended Provident Hospital in Chicago and graduated in 1895. She then took a half-year course at the Freedman's Hospital in Washington, D.C. She subsequently worked at a winter health resort in Lakewood, New Jersey for two years and then decided to become a district nurse.
Such a feat was unheard of at the time for a black woman but Scales was undeterred from her goal. Scales first applied to the St. Phoebe's Mission in Brooklyn, New York and, although they showed interest, Scales was told that there were no openings. However, they directed her to the Charity Organization Society (COS) where she was interviewed by their general secretary, Dr. Devine.
Two months later on October 3, 1900, despite opposition from the committee Scales became the first black district nurse at the COS on the recommendation of Dr. Devine. She entered the contract knowing that her salary may be discontinued after a two-month experimental period. However, one year later she was fully accepted as an employee by the committee due to her work ethic, and she went on to stay there for the nine years until she married her husband, John R. Scales.
The two of them lived in New York and had one daughter, Edna Scales.