Project to expand diversity in the nursing workforce.

Area of Science:

• Health Sciences
• Nursing Education
• Sociology of Health

Background:

• The Bronx has a large Hispanic/Latino population, yet Hispanic students were underrepresented in Lehman College's nursing program (8% in 2006).
• This demographic gap indicated a need for targeted interventions to improve access and success for Hispanic students in nursing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and implement a project to increase the recruitment, retention, and graduation rates of Hispanic nursing students.
• To address the underrepresentation of Hispanic students within the nursing department at Lehman College.

Main Methods:

• A collaborative project was established involving a Bronx high school, Lehman College's nursing program, and a partner hospital.
• The project focused on multifaceted activities to support Hispanic students throughout their academic journey in nursing.

Main Results:

• The project aimed to bridge the gap between the borough's demographic and the nursing student population.
• Detailed results on recruitment, retention, and graduation rates are discussed in the full article.

Conclusions:

• Addressing ethnic disparities in nursing education requires targeted, collaborative initiatives.
• Lessons learned from this project offer insights for similar programs seeking to enhance diversity in nursing.