Immeasurable Impact
Anne G. Perry, Ed.D., R.N., F.A.A.N., firmly believes that true leaders are responsible for steering their professions forward by mentoring future students, researchers and faculty.
For her entire career, the professor emerita and former interim dean and associate dean of nursing at Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville (SIUE), has elevated the nursing profession through education and research.
Last fall the Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing honored Perry for her commitment by bestowing upon her the 2016 Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing Alumni Merit Award. She received the award during Homecoming and Family Weekend.
Perry’s nursing career took off after earning a master of science in nursing from SLU in 1976.
“I had a solid, rigorous education from the University of Michigan for my undergraduate degree,” she said “It was, however, the Jesuit philosophy and teaching that helped shape my career as an academic. There’s something about a Jesuit education that demands excellence while strengthening one’s critical thinking and inductive reasoning abilities. It was the challenge for continued excellence that really honed my abilities as a nurse, teacher, mentor and administrator."
Front Row Seat
Perry began her academic career as an assistant professor at SLU. She rose to full professor and interim director of research before leaving in 2004 to become department chair of the primary care and health systems nursing program at SIU-E, and then the interim dean of the university’s nursing school. Along the way, she became a strong advocate for advancing clinical nursing practice standards. She is the co-author of four internationally acclaimed nursing textbooks — “Basic Nursing," “Fundamentals of Nursing," “Nursing Interventions and Clinical Skills” and “Clinical Nursing Skills and Techniques."
“These same texts have had more than 15 foreign translations, so her influence on standards for clinical nursing practice are immeasurable,” said her longtime friend, colleague and fellow co-author Patricia Potter, Ph.D. (’02), M.S.N. (’78), R.N., Ph.D., F.A.A.N., who nominated Perry for the Alumni Merit Award and received the same award herself in 2014. “She is a consummate professional in how she leads and supports her professional colleagues, mentors and students, and in how she sets standards for nursing practice.”
Perry added, “Writing these textbooks gave me a ‘front row seat’ for all of the advances in nursing practice as well as in academic nursing. I never would have had the opportunity to learn as much as I did about the discipline without this writing opportunity.”
Continuing the Legacy
While at SLU, Perry also led efforts to establish a Sigma Theta Tau chapter at the Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing.
“At the time of the chapter installation in 1980 we had 408 charter members, which was the largest charter membership at that time,” she said.
Perry, who has never shied away from leadership positions or tackling tough research questions, said it is her fundamental belief that if you are going to do a job, do it well.
“This nursing profession is growing and the opportunities for nurses are extensive,” she said. “It’s important to lead and protect the profession for the future.”
Perry’s contributions to the nursing profession also were recognized in 2016 by the
March of Dimes Missouri Chapter. At the chapter’s annual gala, Perry received the
Legend in Nursing Award. It was the third consecutive year that a former SLU Trudy
Busch Valentine School of Nursing faculty member received the top award from the March
of Dimes.
In 2015, Ruth Murray, Ed.D., professor emerita, received the Legend in Nursing Award for her many contributions to the field of psychiatric nursing. She followed Sr. Jeanne Meuer, C.N.M., M.S.N., F.A.C.N.M., who received the honor in 2014. Sr. Jeanne specialized in obstetrical nursing and midwifery and served as president of the Franciscan Sisters of Mary.
"Saint Louis University Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing is known for academic excellence and this is clearly evidenced by our nurse faculty legends, Drs. Meuer, Murray and Perry,” said Teri Murray, Ph.D., dean of the Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing. “I am so proud of them and each are quite deserving of this honor."
Founded in 1928, Saint Louis University Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing has achieved a national reputation for its innovative and pioneering programs. Offering bachelor's, master's, and doctoral nursing programs, its faculty members are nationally recognized for their teaching, research and clinical expertise.