HOME
Native Americans
Men in nursing
Minorities in nursing
Background: The lack of diversity in the nursing profession has been well documented. The lack of diversity in health professions is reported in the following document, which recommends policy and systematic change:
The Sullivan Commission's Report on Increasing Diversity in the Health Professions
A landmark study, this 200-page report elaborates greatly on the issue of diversity in the health professions and the roadblocks for minorities in becoming health care practitioners.
"Overall, African Americans, Hispanic Americans, and American Indians make up 25% of the U.S. population but these groups account for only 9% of the nation’s nurses. Minorities make up less than 10% of the baccalaureate nursing faculties. If the trend continues, the health workforce will resemble the population even less than it does today.
"Historically, racial and ethnic minorities have always been underrepresented in the health professions in America, just as members of these populations have always been more likely to receive a lower quality of care, experience higher rates of illness and disability, and die at earlier age than members of the white populations.
"Clearly, efforts must be enhanced to identify obstacles to nursing careers and to facilitate access to nursing education for underrepresented students. Studies point to many reasons why minorities do not pursue nursing."
References
Bellack, JP. Threatening our diversity. Journal of Nursing Education, 44(5):199-200. May 2005.
Sullivan Commission. Missing person: Minorities in the health professions, 2004. (Note: This report includes a comprehensive list of references on the issue of cultural and ethnic minority diversity in healthcare.)
Terhune, C. From desegregation to diversity: How far have we really come? Journal of Nursing Education. 43(5):195-196, May 2004.
Native Americans
Background: There is a great need for improvements in health care for Native Americans who experience numerous health problems. Native Americans suffer from twice the incidence of alcohol abuse, a higher incidence of nasopharyngeal cancer, an increased incidence of hypertension and diabetes, and a higher incidence of renal disease than the general U.S. population. There also exist disparities in health care and access to health concerns for this population.
Native Americans interested in becoming nurses face many barriers, including disparities in educational opportunities K-12, a lack of tools, such as computers, for learning, general poverty, and poor nutrition. Government funding makes attending nursing school a possibility for some, but their families feel the burden of some expenses as well as lost wages while the student is in school. Earning an associate’s degree is an extraordinary accomplishment for those in this situation, but the profession also needs Native American nurses with advanced degrees to teach incoming students and to work as in the community in advanced nursing roles.
Scholarships for Native American students will be developed through donations to the University of New Mexico in Gallup.
Careers in the Indian Health Service, MinorityNurse.com.
Frontier Education Center. Addressing the Nursing Shortage: Impacts and Innovations in Frontier America, National Clearinghouse for Frontier Communities, December 2004.
Men in nursing
Background: Male nurses make up just 6% of the total number of nurses and male nursing students make up 10% of the student nurse population. Males are deterred from considering a career as a nurse because of inadequate career counseling during school years and global misperceptions about the profession. When males enter a nursing program, barriers to completion of the program may still exist in many schools of nursing.
References
Issues in nursing: Where are the men? Nursing2003 33(7):43-45, July 2003.
O'Lynn, CE. Gender-based barriers for male students in nursing education programs: Prevalence and perceived importance. Journal of Nursing Education. 43(5):229-287, May 2004.
Strong-Anthony, A. Gender bias and discrimination in nursing education--Can we change? Nurse Educator. 29(3):121-125, May 2004.
Content posted June 2005
| The Nursing2007 Foundation is a project of Trust Counselors Network | |
| © 2007 Nursing2007 Foundation | |
| Mailing address: 323 Norristown Rd., Suite 200, Ambler, PA 19002 | |
| To report any broken links, contact webmaster. |