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CHAP TER

Marilyn Anne Ray
1938 to present

Theory of Bureaucratic Caring

Sherrilyn Coffman

“Improved patient safety, infection control, reduction in medication errors, and overall
quality of care in complex bureaucratic health care systems cannot occur without knowledge
and understanding of complex organizations, such as the political and economic systems,
and spiritual-ethical caring, compassion and right action for all patients and professionals.”
(M. Ray, personal communication, May 15, 2012).

Credentials of the Theorist Latinos, Ray began to see how important cultures
Marilyn Anne (Dee) Ray was born in Hamilton, were in the development of people’s views about nurs-
Ontario, Canada, and grew up in a family of six chil- ing and the world.
dren. When Ray was 15, her father became seriously ill, In 1965, Ray returned to school for her BSN and MSN
was hospitalized, and almost died. A nurse saved his in maternal-child nursing at the University of Colorado
life. Marilyn decided that she would become a nurse so School of Nursing. There she met Dr. Madeleine
that she could help others and perhaps save lives, too. Leininger, who was the first nurse anthropologist and
In 1958, Marilyn Ray graduated from St. Joseph the Director of the Federal Nurse-Scientist program.
Hospital School of Nursing, Hamilton, and left for Through her mentorship, Leininger influenced Ray’s
Los Angeles, California. She worked at the University life. Ray took a special interest in nursing, anthropology,
of California, Los Angeles Medical Center on a num- childhood, and culture. She studied organizations as
ber of units, including obstetrics and gynecology, small cultures, and her graduate school project involved
emergency department, and cardiac and critical care the study of a children’s hospital as a small culture.
with adults and children from vulnerable popula- While at the University of Colorado, Ray practiced with
tions. While working with African Americans and children and adults in critical care and renal dialysis,

Photo credit: M. Dauley, Artistic Images, Littleton, CO.

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