Pathways to nurse development and retention: development of an academic/community-engaged partnership

A looming nursing shortage is anticipated by 2025 due to 30% of faculty retirement and the global shortage of 13 million nurses by 2030. Addressing this crisis requires innovative strategies that prioritize diversity and address health inequities. This study aimed to develop and assess the pilot implementation of a community-engaged program targeting underrepresented high school students in a southeastern state.

Evaluation of a nurse development and retention for underrepresented (URM) high school students. Workshop attendance rates were recorded. Program acceptability was measured using the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire-3 (CSQ-3). Changes in participants' intention to apply to nursing programs were assessed using the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE). Registered nurses provided mentoring and offered educational workshops and presentations on nursing career pathways.

Twenty-one African American students from an underserved high school participated. Attendance rates were high, with 81% attending all workshops. Mean CSQ-3 scores demonstrated high program satisfaction (mean = 11). There was a significant increase in GSE scores from 30.81 to 32.57 (p = 0.017), indicating improved self-efficacy to pursue nursing careers.

The study demonstrates that a community-engaged nurse development program was effective as potential approach to address the nursing shortage among URMs and promoting workforce diversity. Mentorship-driven initiatives have the potential to inspire and empower URMs to pursue nursing careers. Further research is necessary to evaluate the program's long-term impact on workforce development and its scalability to other communities, contributing to the evidence base for community-centered approaches to address the global nursing workforce crisis and advance health equity.