Pivotal Moments

Amy Conlin
Phoenix Community College
April 20, 2015

What makes us leaders as we enter the working force? Many of our leadership
traits are already innately instilled it is now up to ourselves to expose, grow, and
maintain nursing. Many leadership styles are outlined this does not mean we can not
brake the mold. This simply means for us to be a leader to our peers, new upcoming
nurses and help grow for the better of our patients. Our patients is and will remain the
number one reason all of us indulged into the nursing profession.
Leadership style that is most appealing is that of authoritarian. This does not
mean any superiority but for the greater good in our patients. It is important that we put
our patients before social status. We must maintain health satisfaction to those we
serve daily. Authoritarian leaders uphold stringent control over our patients by directly
regulating rules, methodologies, and actions. Nursing leaves little room for error and we

must lead by example. We make goals and see to it that these goals are made.
Whether this be interdependent our as a group.
Rheba de Tornyay was a very successful leader. She grew up on a small chicken
farm in northern California, during the depression. She knew from a young tinder age
that she must make something of herself. She grew up in a low to medium class so she
knew she had little room for error. She attended college prematurely and with failing
grades she then chose to join the Red Cross nurses aide preparation class. Following,
she then attended nursing school. She was described as a bit of a trouble maker. In
her effort to change the way nursing students were treated she was dean to the student
body president and advocator for her fellow students. During her period of time out
time, Tornyay wrote to the California state bored of nursing, describing the negative
ways the students were being treated. She never received a response. During a
nursing banquet she was seated next to the executive director for the California State
Board of Nursing. Tornyay asked why she had never received a follow up letter she was
then bluntly advised to settle down and get over it. The message that Tornyay
received was focus on the greater good rather then the moment. This being said this is
why I believe in Tornyay and her leadership. The moment or moments may be hard but
we continue and fight for the greater good of our patients. Stay focused and get over it!!

Leadership style of authoritarian can however be at a downfall. We must learn

the importance of teamwork and keeping everyone in the same know how. We need
to grow autonomy within our peers. We are visionaries and we will finish tasks
effectively and on time. We must not forget that we are a team and we do not operate
independently. We need to work on closing gaps between ourselves and our followers.
We are very strong minded and independent people but to be more effective teach,
learn, and grow with our teams. In doing this we will all become strong not only for
ourselves but most importantly for our patients.
Rheba de Tornyay was a leader from the very start of her career starting as
stated above student body presidents and helped to organize other students to be
presidents in the San Francisco bay area. This later to be known as the California
Nursing Students Associations. She began working in psychiatric nursing as there
were not a lot of pharmacological or treatments available at the time. This was a
challenge, as she learned to work with groups and listen but also to read into what was
said, not just the naked word.
Tornyay finished her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at San Francisco State
College. She worked at Maimonides Rehabilitation Center while in college. She
described this as her passion. She later served on a national committees, advisory
board and co-authored with Heather Young. She then from the University of

Washington created the de Tornyay Center for Healthy again. She wanted nursing
homes to be seen as a place to stay in peace and to know that our loved ones were well
taken care of despite reputation of long term care had. This proposed a challenge once
again.
Tornyay ironically began her teaching career at the very place she entered
nursing school, Mount Zion Hospital School of Nursing. Tornyay wanted to be
knowledgeable while teaching her students. This lead her to once again return back to
school for her Masters in Education. She then was given the opportunity to change
curriculum and help create an environment in which student expression encouraged.
This then became Tornyays passion. After starting teaching with San Francisco State
University she completed her PhD. It was here when she published Strategies for
Teaching Nursing. This book went through many revisions throughout thirty years as
teaching techniques were evolving and changing.
During her years she also served as a Dean at the University of California, Los
Angles and the University of Washington. She evolved back to her teaching years as to
be a proactive dean to many students. She was at a challenge as working for UCLA.
They had inadequate space and low budgets. Tornyay embraced this challenge and
changed UCLA even for todays students.

1972, Tornyay was elected to the Institute of Medicine as worked with some of
the brightest minds in healthcare. She later became dean for the School of Nursing at
the University of Washington. 1973, yet again, another leadership role, American
Academy of Nurses. She was then assigned fellows in which to mentor with her superior
leadership roles at the University of California, Los Angeles. With such a small group of
people she was able to train them into professionals driving them into a giant workforce.
After a short period of time she again returned to the University of Washington, where
she helped to build the best nursing school in the nation.
Under her leadership she was able to establish a PhD program, which continued
to grow and produce national nurse leaders. For twenty years, the School of Nursing at
the University of Washington remained in top rankings, which is a testament to
leadership on all levels. Tornyay was very proactive in her guidance and continued
educational success. Tornyay says she loves to teach nurses and had the opportunity
to change the lives of many students by curriculum changes and her expert leadership
roles.
FAAN, is defined as the Fellows of the American Academy of Nursing. This is a
group of about 2,200 members who are nursing leaders in education, management,
practice and research. Rheba Tornyay was a member to this organization, as she
continued enhancing the quality of health nursing.

Rheba de Tornyay was pivotal in nursing as we see it today. With her continued
success in education, learning, and teaching. She has taught us as students to stand of
for what you believe in. Continue education and dare to enter and enhance life of others
through success and autonomy. We are very grateful to have her as a role model in the
nursing rhealm. I can only aspire to be as great as she was. Thank you Rheba de
Tornyay for your dedication..

Reference
Houser, B.,& Player, K. (2004). Pivotal Moments in Nursing. Nebraska: Nurses
Association.
American Academy of Nursing. Retrieved April 19, 2015, from http://www.aannet.org