4 keys to building a more diverse nursing workforce

A practicing public health nurse recently authored a blog for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, sharing tips on how the healthcare industry can make nursing more inclusive and help minorities in nursing succeed.

Lucia Alfano, RN, is a practicing public health nurse, a member of the nursing faculty at Concordia College in Bronxville, N.Y., and a recipient of Campaign for Action's 2015 Culture of Health: Breakthrough Leaders in Nursing award. She emigrated from Ecuador to the United States when she was young — and experience that shaped her life and career.

"I believe there are many young people who, like me, would thrive in nursing. But because of their background or existing challenges, they may believe that a career in nursing is not an option," said Ms. Alfano. "In particular, young students may think that they cannot afford nursing school. Identifying these kids and helping them succeed could create a nursing workforce that better reflects the growing diversity of our nation."

Highlighted below are four ways healthcare professionals can recruit and graduate minority nurses, and empower those already in the field, according to Ms. Alfano.

1. Introduce kids to the idea of nursing at a young age. Ms. Alfano, for instance, works with the Westchester chapter of the National Association of Hispanic Nurses to visit junior high and high schools with a large Hispanic and African-American populations to talk about careers in nursing.

2. Support minority nursing students in academic support programs. Healthcare professionals should urge minority nursing students to take advantage of remedial courses, tutoring and peer-to-peer mentoring programs, especially if English is their second language. The additional academic support can help minority students succeed in school and graduate.

3. Prioritize diversity when hiring nursing program faculty members. Although clinical careers may pay higher salaries, minority nurses should consider teaching and faculty careers because they can provide much-needed perspective in classroom discussions about cultural competence and serve as role models for young minority students.

4. Encourage minority nurses to participate in community outreach. Hispanic and other minority nurses are uniquely positioned to address the needs and the disparities in their communities and nationally. They can improve care for people struggling with poverty, linguistic barriers and a lack of health literacy, and help create new solutions for vulnerable populations.

 

 

More articles on diversity:
5 findings on diversity — or lack thereof — in the healthcare C-suite
Study: Black patients may receive better GI care when treated at hospitals with diverse populations
Physician diversity lags before med school begins: 7 things to know


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