Transcript of interview with Beth Francis by Patricia Van Betten, May 31, 2004

On May 31, 2004, Pat Van Betten interviewed Elizabeth Beth Francis (born in Laramie, Wyoming) at her home in Las Vegas, Nevada. The interview covers Beth and her historical account of nursing in Clark County. During the interview, Beth recalls working at Sunrise and Memorial hospitals and teaching at the local community college and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). A mother of four when she decided to enroll in nursing school, Beth’s nursing career spanned twenty-six years, and during that time she held various coveted positions, such as president of the Nevada Nursing Association. She describes her role in securing a twenty-five percent raise for nurses in Nevada. In the late seventies, she was invited by UNLV to be on their task force to talk with them about developing their master’s program for nursing. She was also on the education committee for a task force for the state and the governor’s taskforce. A true leader in her field and a member of Sigma Theta Tau since 1982, Beth discusses being awarded NNA District 3, Nurse of the Year Award, in 1989, and being nominated for March of Dimes, Education Nurse of the Year, in 1990, in Clark County. At the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, she describes being one of two nurses recognized as outstanding associate degree students. She recalls delivering the commencement addresses for the graduating LPNs at the community college and UNLV in 1992. Beth also recalls receiving recognition by the Nevada Nurses Association for her outstanding service in nursing.