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May, June, July 2014Nevada RNformation Page 5Diversity in Nursing EducationW. Henkelman, EdD, MSN, RNNevada Career InstituteAn important aspect of addressing diversity in our patient populationsinvolves encouraging diversity among the members of our profession.Currently, the U.S. nursing workforce includes the following minorityrepresentations: 5.8% Asian/Pacific Islander, 5.4% Black/African American,3.6% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.3% American Indian/Alaskan Native. Thiscompares to a total population representation of 4.8% Asian/Pacific Islander,12.2% Black/African American, 15.4% Hispanic/Latino, 0.8% AmericanIndian/Alaskan Native (AACN, 2010). All groups except Asian/Pacific Islandersare therefore significantly under-represented in the nursing profession. Mencomprise 6.6% of the nursing profession while 49% of our total population ismale.Nursing schools are the obvious place to address the problem. Accordingto the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), students ingeneric BSN programs were 8.8% Asian/Pacific Islander, 10.3% Black/AfricanAmerican, 7.0% Hispanic/Latino, 0.5% American Indian/Alaskan Native(AACN, 2012). Healthy People 2010 goals included increasing the numberof degrees awarded in all of the health professions to 13% Black/AfricanAmerican, 12% Hispanic/Latino, and 1% American Indian/Alaskan Native.Minority GroupTotalCurrentPopulation NursesBSNStudentsAsian/Pacific Islander4.8%5.8%8.8%Black/ African American Indian/Alaskan Native0.8%0.3%0.5%Men49%6.6%10.8%Current enrollment data show only modest gains, with minoritiesstill under-represented. Some of the reasons cited by AACN for thedisparities include role stereotypes, economic barriers, gender biases,misunderstanding the practice of nursing, and increased opportunities inother professions. These factors must be addressed by schools of nursing.Rosenberg and O’Rourke (2011) proposed a set of questions and initiativesto help schools of nursing improve performance regarding diversity. Theydescribed a pyramid, with the base being attracting and retaining diversestudents, the middle level being the provision of financial support, and thetop being public relations strategies to attract minority students. To addressthe base, Rosenberg and O’Rourke (2011) suggest the discussion of thesequestions by school leaders:Financial support is already supplied by most schools of nursing, but mayneed to be adjusted to provide more support for minority students. Publicrelations initiatives recommended by AACN (2001) include presenting apositive image of nursing including representation of men and minorities inbrochures and advertisements. They also recommend taking the message tostudents in the communities in which they live, and connecting with potentialstudents at the middle and high school levels.Retention of minority student once enrolled or about to be enrolled ina nursing program can be enhanced through nursing school preparationcourses including such topics as study skills, critical thinking, and nursingmath. Once enrolled, mentorships throughout the nursing program arerecommended, focusing on the minority students.ReferencesAmerica Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2001). Effective strategies forincreasing diversity in nursing programs. Retrieved from ulletin/effective-strategiesAmerican Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2010). Annual report. Retrieved fromhttp://www. aacn.nche.edu/Media/pdf/AnnualReport10.pdfAmerican Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2012). Race/ethnicity of studentsenrolled in generic (entry-level) Baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral(research-based) programs in nursing, 2002-2011. Retrieved from thnicity-TableRosenberg, L. & O’Rourke, M. E. (2011). The diversity pyramid: An organizationalmodel to structure diversity recruitment and retention in nursing programs.Journal of Nursing Education, 50(10). 555-560. Retrieved from ewfile?accountid 159003NURSINGLEADERSHIPPOSITIONS AVAILABLE WITH UTAH STATE UNIVERSITYWhat do we mean by diversity?Is there culture within my institution that promotes diversity?Has my school set diversity goals?What strategies and policies do we need to meet our goals?UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY IS SEEKING APPLICANTSFOR THE FOLLOWING POSITIONS: Director of Nursing Program and Assistant Department Head- Provide exemplary vision and leadership for statewide nursing programs and thedevelopment of new BSN programs. Program Coordinator at USU-Blanding CampusFor more information about these positions please visit jobs.usu.edu.

Page 6 nevada RNformationMay, June, July 2014nevada action coalitionLinda Yi, RNC, MPACoordinator State Implementation ProgramGood news! Last month Dr. Debra Toney, Chair of the Nevada ActionCoalition, discussed that the Action Coalition had applied for at Robert WoodJohnson Foundation State Implementation Program (SIP) grant to increasenurse residency programs throughout the state for new nurses and forregistered nurses returning to the workforce after a significant absence frompractice and to increase the number of BSN prepared nurses in the state by2020. The press release that follows outlines the good news that Nevada is agrant recipient!Nevada Receives Grant from Robert Wood Johnson Foundation toHelp Lead Efforts to Transform Health Care through NursingLas Vegas, NV – The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF)announced that the Nevada Action Coalition will be part of a 4.5 millioninitiative, the Future of Nursing State Implementation Program. The programis helping states prepare the nursing profession to Address our nation’s mostpressing health care challenges—access, quality, and cost. RWJF announcedten states that are joining the program this month; it launched with 20states in February.The Most HigHly AwArded Nurses Care forpaTienTs aT The Best HospitAl in Las Vegas.Debra Collins, BSNChair–Nevada Alliance for Nursing Excellence(NANE)The State Implementation Program bolsters efforts already underway in50 states and the District of Columbia – the Future of Nursing: Campaign forAction – to improve health and health care through nursing. A joint initiativeof AARP and RWJF, the Campaign is working to implement the Instituteof Medicine’s (IOM) evidence-based recommendations on the future ofnursing. It provides a vehicle for nurses at all levels to lead system changeto improve care for patients and families through collaboration with business,consumer, and other health professional organizations.“We are confident that this grant will help spur progress in Nevada, whichalready is doing notable work to transform nursing practice, education, andleadership,” said Susan B. Hassmiller, PhD, RN, FAAN, RWJF senior adviserfor nursing and director of the Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action. “TheFoundation is committed to helping states build a more highly educated,diverse nursing workforce so that everyone in America can live a healthierlife, supported by a system in which nurses are essential partners inproviding care and promoting health.”The State Implementation Program is providing two-year grants ofup to 150,000 to a total of 30 state-based Action Coalitions that havedeveloped or made substantial progress toward implementing the IOMrecommendations. Nevada’s grant application was submitted by the NevadaSystem of Higher Education on behalf of the Nevada Action Coalition. Dr.Marcia Turner, vice chancellor of Health Sciences for the Nevada System ofHigher Education (NSHE), will act as the grant’s principal investigator.“We are pleased that NSHE has this opportunity to partner with theNevada Action Coalition to promote nursing education throughout our state,”said Dan Klaich, chancellor of NSHE. “Working with our colleagues at theDepartment of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation, the Governor’sOffice of Economic Development, and myriad nursing leaders and otherhealth care stakeholders, I am confident we will better prepare Nevada’snurses for success in a changing workforce environment.”States must obtain matching funds to receive the grant. The Departmentof Employment, Training and Rehabilitation (DETR) provided 75,000 inmatching funds to enable Nevada to receive this 150,000 grant. “DETRis delighted by the news that Nevada is a RWJF grant recipient, and weare proud to partner with the NSHE in furthering the work of the NevadaAction Coalition. This is a perfect example of Governor Sandoval’s mission tostrategically leverage funding to promote workforce development in criticalareas such as nursing,” said Frank Woodbeck, director of DETR.The Nevada Action Coalition also gratefully accepted a 10,000 donationfrom the Nevada Hospital Association. Bill Welch, President & CEO of theNevada Hospital Association, said, “The Nevada Hospital Association isdelighted to support this effort which will prepare the next generation ofnurses to meet greater demands and challenges under the new models ofcare delivery and help ensure patients get the care they need, when andwhere they need it.”In addition to Nevada, grants were announced in Alabama, Alaska,Arkansas, Illinois, Minnesota, Ohio, South Carolina, Vermont, and Virginia.The 20 states that received grants in February are: Colorado, Connecticut,Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan,Missouri, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island,Tennessee, Utah, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.“The diverse leadership of our Action Coalition and our focus onmeaningful outcomes that improve care were key factors in Nevada beingselected,” said Debra Gulley-Collins, chair of the Nevada Alliance for NursingExcellence (NANE) and one of the lead organizations for the Action Coalition.“We are part of a powerful movement that is improving health care for allAmericans. The Nevada Action Coalition is grateful to RWJF for this support,which will strengthen our work immeasurably.”Dr. Debra Toney, chair of the Nevada Action Coalition ExecutiveCommittee, noted that the Coalition plans to focus on increasing theNevada Action Coalition continued on page 7

May, June, July 2014Nevada RNformation Page 7Nevada Action Coalition continued from page 6proportion of nurses with baccalaureate degreesto 80 percent by 2020 and implementing a nurseresidency program throughout the state for newgraduates and for registered nurse returning topractice after a significant absence.The Center to Champion Nursing in America(CCNA), an initiative of AARP, the AARPFoundation, and the Robert Wood JohnsonFoundation, serves as the national program officefor the Future of Nursing State ImplementationProgram.“This new program will help Action Coalitionsget the strategic and technical support requiredto advance their goals,” said Susan Reinhard,PhD, RN, FAAN, senior vice president of the AARPPublic Policy Institute and chief strategist at CCNA.“Our hope is that with this support, Nevada will beeven more effective in improving health outcomesfor patients, families and communities.”About the Future of Nursing: Campaignfor ActionThe Nevada Action Coalition is part of theFuture of Nursing: Campaign for Action, a jointinitiative of AARP and the Robert Wood JohnsonFoundation (RWJF), worki

Orvis School of Nursing University of Nevada, Reno Statewide Worldwide UnIVERSITY OF nEVADA, REnO *The DNP program is a collaborative program with UNLV. Students admitted through UNR for this program have their DNP degree conferred by UNR. May, June, July 2014 Nevada RNformation Page 5