Editor's note: On July 8, 2005, Roberta Straessle Abruzzese, EdD, RN, FAAN, founding editor ofDecubitus (nowAdvances in Skin & Wound Care)passed away after a lengthy illness. We asked the journal's Clinical Associate Editor, Elizabeth Ayello, PhD, RN, APRN,BC, CWOCN, FAPWCA, FAAN, to memorialize her friend and mentor.
In Macbeth, Shakespeare wrote, "Give sorrow words." And so I use words to remember and pay tribute to Roberta Straessle Abruzzese, EdD, RN, FAAN, the founding editor of Decubitus (now Advances in Skin & Wound Care), who used her position to promote the science and practice of our specialty. A pioneer in this area, Roberta (as she liked to be called) was one of the most influential people in skin and wound care and a mentor to many. Yet she remained a simple, smart, and approachable person.
Her intellectual brilliance was obvious early on in her life. Roberta grew up in central Arkansas. A scholar from her early years, she graduated from Mount St Mary's Academy prep school at the age of 16; she was the class valedictorian. She earned her diploma in nursing at St. John's Hospital School of Nursing in St Louis, MO, in 1959. Her quest for knowledge and learning did not stop there: She went on to earn her bachelor of nursing degree at Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI, in 1962, and 2 degrees from Columbia University in New York, NY-a master's degree in in-service education in 1970 and an EdD in nursing education in 1975.
Roberta loved clinical practice as well, and she held positions in Arkansas and Oklahoma as a head nurse, supervisor of operating rooms, assistant director of nursing, and director of in-service education. In New York, she was assistant director of staff development at St Luke's Hospital, New York, NY, and director of continuing education and associate professor at Adelphi University School of Nursing, Garden City, NY, from 1975 to 1985. She also served as an adjunct professor at Adelphi into the mid-1990s.
The Launch of a New Journal
A woman of vision and strength, Roberta was one of the founding members of the National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel (NPUAP) in the late 1980s. The NPUAP is now a force in education, research, and public policy related to pressure ulcer prevention and management. About the same time, she launched Decubitus, which debuted in February 1988. Roberta was proud that her name would forever be linked with Decubitus.
The journal's name sparked some controversy among wound care experts when the first issue was published, though; at that time, the debate between the terms decubitus and pressure ulcers was just beginning. In her wisdom, Roberta found a way to satisfy both camps. She made sure that the journal's subtitle clearly reflected what she wanted the journal to be: a compendium of prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers.
(As a side note, Roberta loved words and loved classical Latin. She often reminded us that the plural of decubitus was not decubiti. Being a fourth declension Latin word ending in "us," decubitus is both singular and plural.)
Her first editorial revealed her plan for Decubitus: She wanted this new publication to be "THE RESOURCE for all health care professionals interested in prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers." She realized how difficult it was for busy professionals to keep abreast of the latest developments and research in their field; she wanted Decubitus to be their one-stop shop for answers to pressure ulcer problems.
Roberta's Words
Over the years, Roberta's wisdom and commonsense beliefs came through in her editorials. Here's some of what she believed and said to us:
* Pressure ulcer care does not "belong to any one group of health care professionals."
* The health care team must "work together to diminish the incidence and prevalence of pressure ulcers."
* Success in pressure ulcer care requires "standards of reporting, more sophisticated prevention strategies, and [publication of] scientific bases for treatment."
* "Keep it simple, be down to earth-don't write in academese."
* "Find the gems of knowledge in doctoral dissertations and help them publish."
* "Share your knowledge."
* "Mentor budding authors."
* "Just start writing, the words will come, but not always in a linear order."
* "Writing well is a skill that can only be developed by writing, writing, and more writing."
* "If you want to be a good writer, read Zinsser's On Writing Well and Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea."
* "Sometimes you have to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear."
* "Never wait to tell somebody how much they mean to you."
* "Don't forget to play."
* "When in doubt, use classical Latin."
Besides being the editor of our journal until 1995, Roberta authored numerous articles, book chapters, and her own book, Nursing Staff Development: Strategies for Success, published by Mosby-Year Book, Inc. She also developed and published a pressure ulcer risk assessment tool in the early 1980s that was distributed by Knoll Pharmaceuticals. In addition, she worked with Sharon Baranoski, MSN, RN, CWOCN, APN, DAPWCA, FAAN, founder of the Clinical Symposium on Advances in Skin & Wound Care, to forge a strategic relationship between the journal and the conference that continues to this day.
Sharing Knowledge[horizontal ellipsis]and the Spotlight
Roberta treasured knowledge, and she dedicated her life to expanding her own knowledge and disseminating knowledge to others, especially those at the bedside of patients in hospitals and nursing homes. Her greatest joy was to open the door of opportunity to young professionals. Beginning with her younger sister, Theresa, who specialized in nursing care of older patients, she actively mentored bright, innovative health care professionals in whom she saw potential for greatness, especially those whom she thought would have an impact on patient care outcomes. Through gentle yet astute guidance, her passion for education and excellence in patient care rippled out to touch the lives of countless health care professionals and their patients. Many of us involved in wound care remember when Roberta "discovered" us and brought us into the life-changing opportunity of being inspired and guided by her.
Roberta often did not take credit for the end result of a work effort she mentored. Instead, she encouraged her colleagues, work partners, and others to claim ownership. She was unique in that way: She invited people into the spotlight with her, not fearing that they might overshadow her. She reveled in the increased brightness from the illumination of 2 persons rather than 1. What a special person!
Fortunately, Roberta's humbleness did not let her achievements go unnoticed. She received numerous honors and awards during her distinguished career, including being inducted into nursing's honor society, Sigma Theta Tau International, in 1977. She served as president and was an active member of the Alpha Omega Chapter at Adelphi University and was the 1995 recipient of the Mary Tolle Wright Founders Award for Excellence in Leadership from Sigma Theta Tau International. She was one of a select few nurses nationally elected as a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN); that occurred in 1982. She was named as the first honorary member of the Bophuthatswana Nurses Association, Bophuthatswana, South Africa, in 1984. The NPUAP honored her with its Kosiak Award for advancing knowledge and awareness of pressure ulcer prevention and treatment in 1997.
Requiescere Pax Carus Amica
Roberta's most lasting legacy is the innumerable health care professionals she mentored; her vibrant spirit touched so many people around the world. The impact of her life will be felt long after her name is forgotten-not that I could ever forget Roberta and how she personally motivated me.
Roberta, you were a classy lady who changed the management of patients with wounds, particularly those with pressure ulcers. I was privileged to serve as your associate editor and colleague for many years. You taught me the importance of words and the power of their meaning.
These final words I write in tribute to you are difficult, but I hear your voice guiding me and saying to me just one more time, "When in doubt, use classical Latin."
Requiescere pax carus amica[horizontal ellipsis]rest in peace dear friend.