Nola Ishmael

{{Short description|Barbadian nurse (born 1943)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

Nola Ishmael {{post-nominals|list=OBE}} (born 1943) is a Barbadian nurse who became the first black or minority ethnic director of nursing in London.{{cite news|title=Health hero is rewarded|url=http://www.yellowad.co.uk/article.cfm?id=1366&headline=Health%20hero%20is%20rewarded§ionIs=news&searchyear=2008|accessdate=2 February 2018|work=Yellow Advertiser|date=16 October 2008}}{{cite book|last1=Kramer|first1=Ann|title=Many Rivers to Cross: Caribbean People in the NHS 1948-69|date=2006|publisher=The Stationery Office|isbn=9780113227211|page=34|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6gr1z3Eza1MC&dq=%22nola+ishmael%22&pg=PA34|accessdate=2 February 2018}}{{cite web|title=Dr Nola Ishmael OBE|url=https://www.iamabajan.com/british-barbadians/dr-nola-ishmael-obe/|website=I Am A Bajan|accessdate=2 February 2018}}{{cite news|title=Nola Ishmael - first black director of nursing in London and mentor|url=https://www.nursingtimes.net/archive/nola-ishmael-first-black-director-of-nursing-in-london-and-mentor-01-03-2010/|accessdate=2 February 2018|work=Nursing Times|date=March 2010}}{{cite web|title=Nola Ishmael|url=http://www.caribbeanelections.com/knowledge/biography/bios/ishmael_nola.asp|website=Biographies|publisher=Caribbean Elections|accessdate=2 February 2018}}

She was appointed OBE in the 2000 birthday honours list.{{London Gazette |issue=55879 |date= 19 June 2000|page=11 |pages= |supp= 1|display-supp= |city= |nolink= |postscript= |mode= |title= |quote=Nola, Mrs. ISHMAEL, Nursing Officer, Department of Health}}

A portrait of Ishmael, a 2006 photograph by Julia Fullerton-Batten, is held in the National Portrait Gallery.{{cite web|title=Nola Ishmael|url=https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/portrait/mw121997/Nola-Ishmael?LinkID=mp86192&role=sit&rNo=0|publisher=National Portrait Gallery|accessdate=2 February 2018}}