Addressing Utah's Nursing Workforce Diversity

Background:A diverse nursing workforce is necessary to reduce health disparities for vulnerable populations, because patients have improved health outcomes when they receive care from health care workers who look like them. The Utah nursing workforce lacks racial and ethnic diversity. Despite a slight increase in diverse nursing students, enrollment of Hispanic-Latinos and other ethnic and minority student groups has not been keeping pace with the state's growing diversity. Methods: A literature search revealed that many diverse students face challenges and barriers due to socioeconomic issues. Socioeconomic status may play a role in student and guardian perceptions about attending college. Diverse students may also lack the self-efficacy and confidence to successfully meet the academic requirements for a nursing degree. This quality improvement project used a survey to gather feedback from diverse students and diverse parents/guardians. The project was conducted through outreach to diverse high school students at health career events. The parent/guardian survey was sent to a convenience sample of diverse parents with school-aged children. The survey results were then used to create a needs assessment, which aimed to accurately identify diverse student and parent/guardian perceptions about attending college for a nursing career, and to identify their level of self-efficacy in achieving a college education. Results:The results were evaluated from the perspective of Bandura's Social Cognitive Theory. A descriptive analysis using quantitative methods for student and parent/guardian perceptions was completed. Over 43% of student respondents were unaware of the benefits of a career in nursing, 56.3% of parent/guardian respondents had not considered nursing as a career choice for their student/child, and 41% of students were uncertain about their academic ability to successfully complete a college nursing program. Conclusions:The results of this assessment indicate the need for ongoing outreach and support to diverse students. The results support the importance of health science teacher and guidance counselor engagement with diverse students to help them develop the self-efficacy and confidence needed to successfully complete a college nursing program.