Recruitment and Retention of Minority High School Students to Increase Diversity in the Nursing Profession

Disparities in the quality of health care for the black population have been apparent for many decades, evidenced by the high mortality and morbidity rates for the black/African American community. Major health care organizations have recognized that a culturally diverse nursing workforce is essential to improve the health of this community. Recruitment of prenursing students from the black population is vital to building a diversified workforce sensitive to the community's needs. In recent years, innovative projects have evolved to increase nurse workforce's diversity by recruiting black/African American students. This article provides background, identifies challenges, recommends solutions, and showcases successful programs.