LOGO
BRING DIVERSITY TO NURSING
The University of Massachusetts Lowell, Department of Nursing
LOGO
Karen Deveraux Melillo, Jacqueline Dowling, Lisa Abdallah, Mary Findeisen, Margaret Knight
In partnership with the Lawrence and Lowell Massachusetts School Systems
BACKGROUND
Diversity in the Health Care Work Force: A Priority
•Clear link between lack of diversity in the work force and health
disparities (Huston, 2008)
•Diverse nurses are in great demand especially in urban areas
•Successful initiatives are needed to prepare for the future.
Diversity in the Massachusetts Nursing Work Force
 Nurse Graduates 2004 all programs:
 3.8% Hispanic background, 0.8% obtained BSN
 6.3 % Asian background, 5% obtained BSN
(MACN, 2005).
Diversity in the Merrimac Valley
Lawrence: 60% Hispanic, 7% statewide
Lowell: 16 % Asian, 4% statewide
(Massachusetts Census, 2000)
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Assessment
•On line Assessment of Perception of Nursing as a Career
•Lawrence & Lowell Middle School and High School students 2008
Pre-entry Initiatives
Pre-school and primary school
•Guest reader programs: Lawrence & Lowell schools
•UML nursing students. Minden C, Armantrout LM (2006). Nurses. The Childs World: MN.
Middle school
• After school workshops fall and spring*
•Hands-on activities that introduce students to nursing as a career choice
•Workshops are developed around a health problem
•Activities include body mapping, heart health, exercise, nutrition and basic medication math
RESULTS
Assessment
1298 Nursing as a career Assessments completed (464 HS, 833 MS)
665 girls, 633 boys
185 (14%) interested in nursing, 398 (30%) may consider nursing
Program Evaluations
118 students attended workshops; 40 HS & 78 MS students
92% HS & 89% MS students report learning new information on nursing
32% HS & 47% MS students reported consideration of nursing as a career
BDN Students Currently Enrolled at UML
14 BDN Students; 2 men, 12 women
1 African American, 4 African, 3 Hispanic, 6 Asian,
Interest in Nursing: Post Workshop
Interest in Nursing: Assessment
N=1280
Bring Diversity to Nursing (BDN) is a novel program developed by
faculty at the University of Massachusetts Lowell to inform, recruit,
retain and graduate minority and disadvantaged students from the UML
Nursing Program. UML is located in the Merrimack Valley.
Lowell
and Lawrence are the two largest cities in the Merrimac Valley. The UML
Nursing Program has a long tradition of graduating nursing students who
seek employment in the greater Lowell and Lawrence areas. These cities
are the focus of BDN.
BDN aims to increase the diversity of the workforce in the via a multipronged approach to inform, educate, recruit, retain and graduate diverse
nurses who are successful at passing the state board examination.
*Summer programs are also provided in conjunction with college preparatory programs offered
through Umass Lowell’s School of Education and through the Center for Family, Work and
Community.
CHART or
PICTURE
Maybe
Yes
HS MS HS MS HS MS HS MS HS MS
White
Black
Hispanic
Asian
CHART or
PICTURE
80%
No
Other
Race
60%
40%
NO
MAYBE
YES
20%
0%
MS
HS
Grade level
CONCLUSIONS
Recruitment Initiatives
Junior & Senior HS Students
•Assistance with resources and preparation for the Scholastic Achievement Test
• BDN Minority Nurse Recruiters meet with students to discuss entry requirements
•Assistance with the application process.
Retention Initiatives (4 years)
UML Nursing Program
•The BDN Diversity Nurse meets with students regularly
•Tutoring, in class assistance, study groups
• University cultural groups and clubs
• Stipends and scholarships
•Technology Assistance
•BDN students are mentored by diverse nurses in the community
•Preparation for State Board Exam.
Evaluation
CHART or PICTURE
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
Percent
PURPOSE AND HYPOTHESIS
High school
•After school workshops fall & spring*
•Activities enhance academic ability and increase competitiveness for entry into UML nursing.
•Curriculum builds in a strong science and math components
• Content delivered through a body system approach
• Demonstrate basic problem solving and specific skill sets
Percent
100%
Middle & High School
•Increased interest in Nursing as a career
•Increased application from Lawrence & Lowell HS students to UML nursing program
•Increased acceptance into the UML nursing program
Nursing Program
•Progression of BDN students through the curriculum
•State Board Exam success
Workshops
BDN workshops increased interest in pursuing nursing as a career at both the HS & MS level
Knowledge delivery through a hands on approach is effective in providing new information about
nursing as a career
•Health systems approach in workshops allows MS & HS students to observe/follow the nursing
process in care/treatment of a person with a health problem.
Retention
• Students report decreasing work hours as a result of the BDN program
•Availability of technology resources improves ability to compete academically
•Diversity Nurse/BDN student communication fosters early problem identification
Future
•Track applicants from Lawrence & Lowell school systems who choose UML program, other BSN
programs and ADN programs
•Evaluation of interest in nursing as a career for minority men
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Huston, C. (2008). Letter from the president. Create the Future, 5(11), 1.
MACN (2005). Ensuring an educated nursing workforce for the Commonwealth. Canton, MA
Author.
Massachusetts Department of Public Health (2000) Census report. Retrieved 11/06/08:
http://masschip.state.ms.us/InstantTopics/
BDN is funded by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) Reducing Racial
and Ethnic Health Disparities Workforce Development Grant and the Division of Nursing
(DN) Bureau of Health Professions (BHPr) Health Resource and Service Administration
printed by
(HRSA) Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).
www.postersession.com