Expanding opportunities in graduate education for minority nurses

Unique opportunities exist in education for minority nurses in graduate and doctoral programs. Graduate enrollment statistics reported by the American Colleges of Nursing (1996) showed that from 1991 to 1995 minority nursing enrollment in masters degree programs averaged 11% of total graduate nursing enrollment, with a mean of 3,392 students, compared to an average of 83% non-Hispanic White masters in nursing degree graduate enrollees, with a mean of 24,941 students. During this same period, minority doctoral nursing student enrollment showed an average figure of 33 enrollees or 9% of the enrolled nursing doctoral population, while non-Hispanic White doctoral nursing student enrollment figures showed enrollment averaging 2,333 student or 81% of the enrolled nursing doctoral population. These figures represent over 70% enrollment differences in minority and non-Hispanic White graduate and doctoral student enrollment. This article addresses the disparity in graduate nursing education and outlines strategies to provide an equitable approach to the educational dilemma faced by minority nurses.