Minority Nurses

In recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month, Adrianna Nava, president of the National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN), shares how this organization is working to address the needs of current and future Hispanic nurses and the communities they represent.

There are many factors that influence the path nurses take not only as professionals, but also as individuals, in pursuit of a way to make a difference in the things they believe in. As a nurse researcher, educator, and leader of the recent National League for Nursing (NLN) "Diversity & Inclusion: Facilitating Race-Related Discourse that Matters" workshop, Kenya V. Beard, EdD, AGACNP-BC, NP-C, CNE, ANEF, FAAN, demonstrates the many reasons why nurses should work to influence and inspire change in policy and practice.

When Jana Lauderdale, PhD, RN, FAAN, took the stage at the National Student Nurses’ Association (NSNA) 66th Annual Convention plenary session presented by Johnson & Johnson, she introduced herself in a unique way: “I’m a Comanche Indian and I’m a nurse.” These descriptions shape Jana’s personal identity, but they also shape how she approaches and analyzes the world around her.

Since 2007, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) and the Johnson & Johnson Campaign for Nursing have partnered to sponsor the Johnson & Johnson/AACN Minority Nurse Faculty Scholars program. The program — which is currently accepting applications — aims to address faculty shortages in nursing schools and simultaneously expand the number and increase diversity among the nurse faculty population available to teach an increasingly diverse student body.

Providing respectful and competent care is a cornerstone of exceptional nursing. However, a patient’s perception of healthcare and healthcare providers’ abilities to provide comprehensive care can be impacted (positively or negatively) by a healthcare provider’s ability to take a patient’s own background and experiences into account. This is particularly true within Alaska Native (AN) and American Indian (AI) communities, as each culture maintains distinct traditions. When nurses in Alaska are able to relate to indigenous ways of living, knowing, and healing, they can establish a comfortable and trusting relationship with AN and AI patients.

The University of Alabama Capstone College of Nursing BAMA-Latino Project is working to achieve the goal of a health workforce that mirrors the nation’s diverse population.

Did you know that January is National Mentoring Month? By preparing young adults for college and careers, mentoring helps develop the future talent pipeline for skilled professions like nursing. Mentors are especially important for students from demographics that are underrepresented in the workforce.