The papers of Linda Strodtman relate primarily to her work with diabetic patients at the University of Michigan Hospitals and to her more general involvement with Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS) during the years, 1970-1985. There is scant material on Strodtman's personal life. There are few documents in the collection relating to her research and teaching duties.
What the collection does document is Strodtman's work with diabetic patients, her involvement with the Michigan Diabetes Research and Training Center (MDRTC) and Diabetes Center Unit (DCU), and her activities as a CNS. The arrangement of the papers represents a blend of Strodtman's original order and description and series ordered by the processors. While this hybrid arrangement seeks to highlight aspects of her career, the researcher should note that series divisions are not absolute; some materials in the CNS series may relate to the MDRTC and vice versa.
The researcher is advised to be flexible and persistent in using the Strodtman collection; related materials are in separate and distinct areas of the collection. Furthermore, materials related to the MDRTC, the DCU, and nursing in general can be found in other collections held by the Bentley Library: The Diabetes Research and Training Center, School of Nursing, and Medical-Surgical Nursing Area collections all contain related materials.
The papers are organized into fourteen series:
- Correspondence, 1970-1985;
- Self-Evaluations, Progress Data, and Logs, 1970-1983;
- Michigan Diabetes Research and Training Center (MDRTC), 1976-1986;
- Diabetes Center Unit (DCU), 1975-1983
- University of Michigan Hospitals, Early Diabetes Program, 1970-1976;
- University of Michigan Hospitals, Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS), 1971-1983;
- University of Michigan Hospitals, Nursing Services, 1975-1979;
- Professional Activities, 1973-1988
- Photographs
- Medical Nursing Area Meetings, 1979-1984
- Diabetes Patient Education Program, DCU, 1973-1983;
- Educational Service for Nursing (ESN) 1978-1985
- School f Nursing and Nursing Services, U-M Hospitals, 1980-1992
- Patient Log Book, 1972-1982
The papers were received in several accession and several series are subdivided into subseries reflecting multiple accessions.
Linda Kay Tanner Strodtman was born on March 24, 1944 in Reno, Nevada. She earned a nursing diploma in 1965 from Hurley Hospital School of Nursing in Flint, Michigan. A B.S. in Nursing from Michigan State University followed in 1967 and a M.S. in Medical-Surgical Nursing from the University of Michigan in 1970.
Strodtman began her teaching career in 1967 as an assistant instructor at Hurley. She was an assistant professor of nursing in the University of Michigan's School of Nursing from 1972 to 1974, and began over ten years of supervising nursing graduate students doing research and clinical practicums. Strodtman also was active during the 1970s as a guest lecturer for School of Public Health courses and at nursing conferences.
Strodtman's addresses, as well as her research work, were generally on diabetes, her clinical specialty, specifically the education of diabetic patients. In 1970 she was appointed a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) in Endocrinology and Metabolism at the University Hospitals; she was one the first three CNSs at the hospital. A CNS is "a Masters prepared practitioner who utilizes advanced knowledge, clinical competencies, and research in a specialized area of nursing practice."
When the Michigan Diabetes Research and Training Center (MDRTC) was established in 1977, Strodtman was appointed a CNS at the center's Diabetes Center Unit (DCU). The DCU was the principal training and demonstration program core facility--a model patient care unit, employed to implement new care procedures and give practical training to health care professionals. Strodtman was one of the original members of the MDRTC's Executive Committee, first chair of the DCU's Care Program and Development Group, and member of the DCU's Operating Committee, Health Professional Education Committee, and Research Coordinating Committee.
In addition to her work with diabetic patients in the DCU, Strodtman was active in defining the roles of CNSs in general. She has written and spoken on nursing assessment procedures, primary care nursing, nursing research, and peer review. She served on several committees concerned with defining research guidelines for CNSs.
Strodtman has been committed to documenting the history of nursing. In addition to gathering the papers that constitute the current collection, she has completed a Ph.D. in the history of nursing, is active in the University of Michigan Nursing History Society, and has overseen the creation of a collection of nursing equipment and uniforms.
