Cheryl L Woods-Giscombe1, Pamela Johnson Rowsey2, Shawn Kneipp3, Charity Lackey4, Lilian Bravo5. 1. School of Nursing, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, United States of America. Electronic address: Cheryl.Giscombe@unc.edu. 2. School of Nursing, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, United States of America. Electronic address: pjrowsey@uncg.edu. 3. School of Nursing, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, United States of America. Electronic address: skneipp@email.unc.edu. 4. School of Nursing, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, United States of America. Electronic address: lacklack@live.unc.edu. 5. School of Nursing, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, United States of America. Electronic address: liliangb@email.unc.edu.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Increasing the diversity of the nursing workforce is a high priority for addressing the nursing shortage and for developing a workforce capable of meeting the cultural needs of an increasingly diverse population. The purpose of this study was to identify student perspectives on the (1) influence of family, friends and others on nursing as a career choice and (2) optimal recruitment strategies to enhance diversity in schools of nursing. METHOD: Twenty-two diverse, underrepresented baccalaureate nursing students (including underrepresented ethnic minorities, economically disadvantaged students, and men) participated in two focus groups. Applied thematic analysis was used to organize the data and identify major themes. RESULTS: Participants perceptions involved two major thematic areas: (a) misconceptions of nursing, and (b) closing the gap, which had two sub-themes: facilitating support and encouragement and marketing nursing to younger groups. Recommendations for recruitment strategies included: providing applicants information to overcome myths and stereotypes about nursing, incorporating family members and friends into the recruitment process, highlighting nursing as a STEM field grounded in science and evidence-based practice, and engaging in outreach to educate elementary, middle, and high school students about the nursing profession. CONCLUSION: Findings provide direction for developing programming and collaborations to enhance recruitment of underrepresented students to nursing.
BACKGROUND: Increasing the diversity of the nursing workforce is a high priority for addressing the nursing shortage and for developing a workforce capable of meeting the cultural needs of an increasingly diverse population. The purpose of this study was to identify student perspectives on the (1) influence of family, friends and others on nursing as a career choice and (2) optimal recruitment strategies to enhance diversity in schools of nursing. METHOD: Twenty-two diverse, underrepresented baccalaureate nursing students (including underrepresented ethnic minorities, economically disadvantaged students, and men) participated in two focus groups. Applied thematic analysis was used to organize the data and identify major themes. RESULTS:Participants perceptions involved two major thematic areas: (a) misconceptions of nursing, and (b) closing the gap, which had two sub-themes: facilitating support and encouragement and marketing nursing to younger groups. Recommendations for recruitment strategies included: providing applicants information to overcome myths and stereotypes about nursing, incorporating family members and friends into the recruitment process, highlighting nursing as a STEM field grounded in science and evidence-based practice, and engaging in outreach to educate elementary, middle, and high school students about the nursing profession. CONCLUSION: Findings provide direction for developing programming and collaborations to enhance recruitment of underrepresented students to nursing.
Authors: Margarita Rodríguez-Pérez; Francisco Mena-Navarro; Abraham Domínguez-Pichardo; Cristina Teresa-Morales Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-02-05 Impact factor: 4.614
Authors: Cristina Teresa-Morales; Margarita Rodríguez-Pérez; Miriam Araujo-Hernández; Carmen Feria-Ramírez Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-06-22 Impact factor: 4.614