Vanderbilt mourns loss of nursing stalwart Tucker
Ouida Tucker, a Vanderbilt nurse and administrator for 37 years and a 1934 graduate of Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, died March 26. She was 93.
During her career, Mrs. Tucker served many roles throughout the hospital, starting as a nurse working 54 hours a week for $65 a month before rising to several supervisory roles. When she was just about to retire after 18 years of service to focus more on her three children, her husband died unexpectedly.
Ouida Tucker
She returned to work full time, rising to assistant director of Nursing Services for Vanderbilt Hospital, including during the hospital's move to its current location in 1980, and served two stints as acting director of Nursing Services.
“When we talk about people who literally helped to build the reputation of Vanderbilt University Medical Center into what it is today, made a profound difference in the lives of thousands of people and paved the road for today's health care leaders, we are referring to people like Ouida Tucker,” said Marilyn Dubree, M.S.N., R.N., executive chief nursing officer. “She was a born leader and we all reap the benefits of her Vanderbilt service every day.”
Mrs. Tucker retired from Vanderbilt in 1982, but remained loyal throughout her life.
“Vanderbilt was like her second home, her family away from her own family,” said Mary Howell, Tucker's daughter. “We would often joke that Vanderbilt was not the only hospital in town, but to mother, it was.”
“She completed her nursing degree in the last class before students earned Bachelor of Science degrees,” Howell said. “It was remarkable to see what she was able to accomplish. We always said she was born before her time — today, she would have been a CEO of some corporation.”
Mrs. Tucker is survived by her three children, John Tucker (Connie), Mary Howell (Terry) and Bruce Tucker (Susan), seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Memorial contributions may be made to the Calvary United Methodist Church, where Mrs. Tucker was a member and served as a volunteer for 22 years, at 3701 Hillsboro Pike, Nashville, TN, 37215.