Who is Mabel Morris?

Image of Mabel Morris and her daughter

Mabel Morris was born near Chincoteague, Virginia in 1921. Her mother, Flossie, was barely 14 years old. Mabel was a bright child, and her family saw her potential early. Mabel's mother nurtured her daughter's talent and compassion, encouraging her to pursue the nursing field. Mabel graduated Girls High School, then received her nursing diploma from Mercy Hospital, and finally earned advanced degrees from the University of Pennsylvania and Columbia University.

Mabel believed that every family deserved enough support and resources to succeed. She didn't just see patients, she saw the potential in families to grow, develop, and overcome hardships with the support of a public health nurse. Mabel was known for her sunny disposition and bright smile that lifted the spirits of her patients and colleagues. She valued education, and advised people that, “knowledge is power and information is how to get it.”

In June 2009, Mabel Morris died peacefully at 88 years of age, surrounded by her family and loved ones.

Today, Mabel is known as the first public health nurse leader in Philadelphia. Her energy, passion, and dedication to healthy children with bright futures ahead of them inspires the next generation of public health nurses in Philadelphia at the Mabel Morris Family Home Visit Program. Mabel's work still guides the city's public health nurses.

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TCPI Power Packs

As the only professional nursing organization involved in the Transforming Clinical Practice Initiative (TCPI) we were part of a collective of 10 professional associations charged to assist over 140,000 clinicians in improving how care is delivered by providing technical assistance support for integrating quality and process improvements, and by building on and spreading existing change methodologies, practice transformation tools, published literature, and technical assistance programs.

In collaboration with other SANs we developed a number of Power Packs to spread the transformational work undertaken by clinicians and practices nationally.

Each Power Pack presents a specific service delivery challenge and the steps taken by the spotlighted practice to address the challenge. Power Packs provide a set of change tactics and resources from the SANs and other professional associations that clinicians can use to address a similar challenge within their own practices.