Effects of formal and informal support structures on the motivation of Native American students in nursing

Native Americans have traditionally been underrepresented in nursing. The authors surveyed 19 undergraduate nursing students participating in a university sponsored Native American nursing student support program and examined which social support factors influenced the students' success. Using validated quantitative measures from social psychology, the authors found that overall perceived social support, as well as support from the university sponsored program, positively influenced Native American students' identification with nursing, their interest in nursing, their perception of the value of nursing, and their motivation to continue pursuing nursing as a career. Conversely, perceptions of unfairness due to racial bias within the major negatively affected students' perception of the value of nursing, as well as their motivation to pursue a nursing career.