Final answer:
Mary Eliza Mahoney worked for the acceptance of African Americans into the nursing profession and became the first African American licensed nurse in the United States.
Step-by-step explanation:
Mary Eliza Mahoney's contribution to nursing was that she worked for the acceptance of African Americans into the nursing profession. As an African American nurse, she faced discrimination and barriers to entry in the field. However, she persevered and became the first African American licensed nurse in the United States in 1879. Mahoney's achievement paved the way for other African Americans to pursue nursing careers and brought attention to the need for diversity in the nursing profession.