Nursing Mentors
Aim To Bridge Field's Diversity Gap

The latest figures from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services show there are several significantly underrepresented groups among the country's nursing population, with one of the largest discrepancies existing among the Hispanic population. (NY1 television is broadcast out of New York. NY1's Kafi Drexel filed the following report.)

While nursing schools are now graduating Hispanic students faster than any other ethnic group, many of those students say they feel they lack a support system among peers and faculty. That's why Michele Crespo-Fierro, a registered nurse and clinical instructor at NYU's College of Nursing founded campus group Latinos Aspiring To Imagine Nursing Opportunities, or LATINOS. NYU featured the group on the cover of the school's fall magazine.

"In New York, we have diversity on our floors, you know, in the nursing units. But those nurses tend to stay on the floors. There's that comfort level developed with having to stay on that regular schedule, having that regular paycheck, really good benefits, and there's a fear of really moving beyond that and taking on the added levels of responsibility and leadership roles," Crespo-Fierro said.

To move beyond that fear, Crespo-Fierro encourages her students to seek higher masters and doctoral degrees, and take on bigger roles in healthcare and among academics.

"My mother is actually a labor and delivery nurse, and she's part of the National Association of Hispanic Nurses. So she introduced me to nursing and she also introduced me to the organization. She knew that being a part of it was mentorship and giving back to the community," said NYU Undergrad Student Emily Odermatt.

"One thing that I find in groups like this is just the collaboration, the ability to share similar stores. But not only, but learn about the diversity within the Hispanic culture," said NYU Doctoral Student Adrien Juarez.

LATINOS isn't the only specialized student group at NYU. Men are also another minority in the nursing field and they have a group for that too.

Men make up only 5.8 percent of nurses. Sticking to keeping student group names simple, Gary Camelo is also a member of Men Entering Nursing or MEN.

"Men in nursing, we have stories to tell. And when we have our meetings, we get to tell our stories, we can relate more because we're guys and we go through different things as a male nurse, certain things that a female nurse doesn't go through," said NYU Dual Degree Program Student Gary Camelo.

Crespo-Fierro says with health reform laws kicking in, campus groups like these will play an increasingly vital role in recruiting and retaining the nurses who will be strongly relied upon for preventive care.

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