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Enhancing Diversity in the Nursing Workforce
Nursing's leaders recognize a strong connection
between a culturally diverse nursing workforce and the ability to
provide quality, culturally competent patient care. Though nursing has
made great strides in recruiting and graduating nurses that mirror the
patient population, more must be done before adequate representation
becomes a reality. The need to attract students from under-represented
groups in nursing - specifically men and individuals from African
American, Hispanic, Asian, American Indian, and Alaskan native
backgrounds - is gaining in importance given the Bureau of Labor
Statistics' projected need for more than a million new and replacement
registered nurses by 2016.
Diversity in the Nursing Workforce & Student Populations
- According to the U.S. Census Bureau,
the nation's minority population totaled 102.5 million or 34% of the
U.S. population in 2007. With projections pointing to even greater
levels of diversity in the coming years, nurses must demonstrate a
sensitivity to and understanding of a variety of cultures in order to
provide high quality care across settings.
- According to the latest National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses
(NSSRN) from March 2004, nurses from minority backgrounds represented
10.7% of the registered nurse (RN) workforce. Considering racial/ethnic
backgrounds, the RN population is comprised of 4.2% African American;
1.7% Hispanic; 3.1% Asian/Native Hawaiian; 0.3% American Indian/Alaskan
Native; and 1.4% multi-racial nurses.
- Though
men only comprise 5.8% of the nation's nursing workforce, this
percentage has climbed steadily since the NSSRN was first conducted in
1980. The number of men in nursing has surged 273.2% in this time
period from 45,060 nurses in 1980 to 168,181 nurses in 2004. http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/healthworkforce/rnsurvey04
- According to the National Sample Survey,
RNs from minority backgrounds are more likely than their white
counterparts to pursue baccalaureate and higher degrees in nursing.
Data show that while 46.5% of white nurses complete nursing degrees
beyond the associate degree level, the number is significantly higher
or equivalent for minority nurses, including African American (52.0%),
Hispanic (46.4%), and Asian (72.6%) nurses. RNs from minority
backgrounds clearly recognize the need to pursue higher levels of
nursing education beyond the entry-level.
- According to AACN's report on 2008-2009 Enrollment and Graduations in Baccalaureate and Graduate Programs in Nursing,
nursing students from minority backgrounds represented 26.0% of
students in entry-level baccalaureate programs, 24% of master's
students, and 22.2% of students in research-focused doctoral programs.
In terms of gender breakdown, men comprised 10.4% of students in
baccalaureate programs, 8.9% of master's students, 7.1% of
research-focused doctoral students, and 10.2% of practice-focused
doctoral students. Though nursing schools have made strides in
recruiting and graduating nurses that reflect the patient population,
more must be done before equal representation is realized.
- The
need to attract diverse nursing students is paralleled by the need to
recruit more faculty from minority populations. Few nurses from
racial/ethnic minority groups with advanced nursing degrees pursue
faculty careers. According to data from AACN member schools, only 10.7%
of full-time nursing school faculty come from minority backgrounds, and
only 5.0% are male. www.aacn.nche.edu/IDS
Reprinted from American Association of Colleges of Nursing
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Contact Us |
To establish or reinforce your commitment to Diversity, call:
Pat Magrath National Sales Director at 781-248-3446 or email her at [email protected]
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What is DiversityNursing.com
Is it a recruiting company or hiring service?No.
DiversityNursing.com is the nation's leading website where nurses and organizations who need nurses may find each other. It is a premier online career job board and information resource.
Who needs DiversityNursing.com?
All nurses - from student nurses to CNO's - regardless of age, race, gender, religion, education, national origin, sexual orientation, disability or physical characteristics. All organizations who need nurses - from hospitals and insurance companies to schools and camps.
How should you use DiversityNursing.com?
Nurses: Check our banners, job postings, and Employer Profiles; set up a job alert, join our Facebook community, post your resume, sign up for our newsletter - - even register for our $5,000 education award or participate by comment on our Blog. Organizations: Post your jobs, place banners with access to your website, add your Employer Profile.
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Thank you
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Thank you to all the nurses, educators and employers who continually support DiversityNursing.com
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