Marilyn Peddicord Whitley, MS, RN, PhD
1935-2024
Marilyn Whitley was a groundbreaking nurse advocate, whose achievements still benefit the advanced practice psychiatric nursing profession.
Without her pioneering work, AAPPN would not be here today.
Marilyn had a long and distinguished career. She was one of the first nurses to be certified by the American Nurses Association as a Clinical Specialist in Adult Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing. She was also one of the first nurses to be granted prescriptive authority.
In 1982, Marilyn and Oliver H. Osborne met with other University of Washington faculty members and community-based practicing professional psychosocial nurses to discuss creating a new association. Their vision was an organization where advanced practice psychosocial nurses could exchange ideas, support colleagues in professional activities, and provide a means of networking.
Later that year, the group formed the Northwest Association of Clinical Specialists in Psychosocial Nursing, a forerunner of the Association of Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses.
Her career included several teaching positions:
- Faculty at the University of Washington
- Associate Dean of Students at Portland State
- Professor and Director of Nursing at Montana State University
- Associate Dean of Students at Loyola University Chicago
- Director of Graduate Nursing Program at Seattle University.
Marilyn retired from nursing in 2001 to become a full-time potter at Pike Street Market. In 2011, AAPPN honored Marilyn with the Nursing Excellence Award in recognition of her contributions to the nursing profession.
Many thanks to Connie Huffine for contributing to this story and to the Lois Price Spratlen Foundation for sharing the photo of Sue Poulsen and Marilyn Whitley.