Renilda Hilkemeyer, RN, BS, Dr.P.H., Oral History Interview, May 23, 2000

Renilda Hilkemeyer, RN, BS, Dr.P.H., Oral History Interview, May 23, 2000

Download Interview Transcript (479 KB)

Loading...

Media is loading
 

Description

Major Topics Covered:

  • Personal background and education
  • Evolution of career
  • Oncology nursing in the 1950s and subsequent evolution
  • Oncology nursing at MD Anderson: developing nursing practice, scope of practice, education, nursing research
  • Role of Director of Nursing at MD Anderson: developing the role, creating working relationships with leadership, clinical staff, Pharmacy, etc.
  • Contributions to the evolution of MD Anderson and its reputation

Identifier

HilkemeyerR_01_20000523

Publication Date

5-23-2000

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License.

Topics Covered

University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas System. M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, M.D. Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute at Houston, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, M.D. Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute

Disciplines

History of Science, Technology, and Medicine | Oncology | Oral History

About the Interview

The interview with Ms. Renilda Hilkemeyer begins with her early education and career. She explains how her career led to working in the field of oncology nursing. In this section of the interview, she highlights the development of training nurses, the stigmatism around cancer, and the value of hands-on experience. Ms. Hilkemeyer explains how she came to M. D. Anderson and the challenges she faced in developing the department of nursing, including staffing, interdepartmental collaboration, and institutional bureaucracy. The interview highlights the social issues of the time especially racial segregation and women in the work place. Ms. Hilkemeyer discusses the creation of a rehabilitation center at M. D. Anderson. She talks about her education programs to improve the care of patients. These broke role barriers and increased nursing qualifications. Ms. Hilkemeyer draws attention to her ground breaking education program for nurses in intravenous and chemotherapy procedures. This section also highlights her involvement in creating master and doctoral programs in nursing. Ms. Hilkemeyer discusses her awards and continued role in institutional committees since retirement. She concludes the interview in discussing the motivations and challenges in creating a child care center in 1963 and the honor of having it named after her in 1981.

Conditions Governing Access

Open

Renilda Hilkemeyer, RN, BS, Dr.P.H., Oral History Interview, May 23, 2000

Share

COinS