Virginia Cleland: An oral history by her colleagues and mentorees

Purpose: The purpose of this study, an oral history, was to create a documented account of how Virginia Cleland was experienced by her colleagues and those she mentored. Design: Data were collected for 8 months by snowball sampling of colleagues and mentorees. Nineteen individuals from across the United States were contacted and interviewed via telephone. Methods: An oral history method was used to allow selected colleagues and mentorees of Cleland to talk about their experiences with her as a nurse scholar, academic, advocate for women, and visionary. The following 5 predominant themes were identified: (1) keeping boundaries clear; (2) “outspoken” leadership; (3) intense commitment to potential growth of others; (4) pragmatic, creative ideas, and action; and (5) equal rights for women. Conclusions: The oral history method is an effective way to demonstrate the characteristics of nurse leaders who contribute to successes in their careers. Nurses are given the opportunity to evaluate the qualities of leadership, especially in turbulent and challenging times.