Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #110461

Kimberly Adams Tufts, ND, WHNP, FAAN, Nursing, Old Dominion University, 108 Smythe Court, Apt. 202, Virginia Beach, VA 23452, 757-683-5011, ktufts@odu.edu

The objective of the Discover Nursing program is to establish an educational pipeline for the purposes of recruiting, retaining, and graduating persons from underrepresented backgrounds. The overall program goal is to increase the number of persons from Appalachian, African American, and/or Hispanic/Latino backgrounds that enroll in the Bolton School of Nursing, graduate, and pass the NLCEX examination. Preliminary planning for the program began in December 1999 with a focus group composed of ethnic minority students who were enrolled in the School of Nursing at the time. The organizing framework for the project grew out of the work with that focus group. “Connectedness” is the thread that ties together all program activities. This phrase is used by the Program Director to signify the facilitation of a sense of belonging and is reflective of one focus group participant's stated desire “to see someone who looks like me where I want to go”. “Connectedness” strategies included cultural competence activities, networking with community-based minority nurses, retention counseling, participation in community outreach, social support, and academic support including faculty mentorship. Community outreach activities such as health fairs and school-based health education sessions are “Connectedness” activities that link the middle and high schools students with undergraduate students, graduate students, and faculty. This effective program has achieved its objective of establishing an educational pipeline via academic and social support strategies. Persons from underrepresented groups who enroll in the Bolton School have increased; the attrition rate has decreased from a 19.3% to .05%. All graduates have passed the NCLEX examination. Four Discover Nursing Scholars have entered graduate school. Graduate students who have participated in the program are progressing satisfactorily. As a result of a partnership with two local schools, 65 middle and high school students have attended the Summer Enrichment program with two of those students enrolling in BSN programs and significant numbers planning to apply to nursing programs. Some 1200 primary and secondary school students have been informed of the career opportunities available to nurses and how to prepare for entry into nursing school through school-based programming and/or mentoring relationships with Bolton School undergraduate students.

Learning Objectives: After participating in this session the learner will be able to

• List 4 strategies for creating an educational pipeline for the purposes of recruiting, retaining, and graduating persons from underrepresented ethnic minority groups
• Define "Connectedness"
• Cite 3 examples for facilitating "Connectedness"

Keywords: Ethnic Minorities, Community-Based Partnership

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation