A successful Minority Retention Project

Racial and ethnic minorities are underrepresented in the nursing profession. The high attrition rate of minority students from nursing schools contributes to this problem. Academic leaders are calling for change in nursing education and asking educators to work diligently to retain minority students. This article describes a Minority Retention Project that included interventions designed to enhance the integration of minority students into a supportive learning environment, assist them in using the available resources, and help them feel connected and supported by their peers and faculty. At the end of the first year of the project, the nursing school experienced 100% retention of minority nursing students. Increasing the retention and graduation of minority nursing students supports the continued effort to provide culturally competent health care.