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

Abstract #100630

Glenda Burnett, RN, MUPP¹, Kathleen A. Baldwin, PhD, RN², Michele Issel, PhD³, and Cynthia A. Boyd, MSN, PhD, FAAN¹. (1) UIC Neighborhoods Initiative, University of Illinois At Chicago, 845 S. Damen Suite 507, mc/802, Chicago, IL 60612, 312-996-7780, GBurnett@uic.edu, (2) College of Nursing, Peoria Regional Program, University of Illinois at Chicago, One Illini Drive, Box 1649, Peoria, IL 61656-1649, (3) School of Public Health/Division of Community Health Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1601 West Taylor Street, Rm 619, Chicago, IL 60612

The Career Ladders Program's (CLP) mentored BSN Program of the UIC College of Nursing is designed to address two serious modern problems. First, it is well known that there are wide disparities in health outcomes, life expectancy and quality of life when comparisons are made between the dominant culture and those of ethnic minorities. Among the strategies to address these inequities are efforts to improve the use of existing health care resources. Key among these strategies is the preparation and strategic placement of ethnic minority nurses in settings serving minority populations. A second and closely related concern is the severe nursing shortage. Not only are there fewer nurses from under-represented groups, there is shortage of nurses in general particularly in rural and high need communities. The UIC Career Ladders Program addresses both concerns by working with community based organizations and individuals to identify and introduce ethnic minorities to career opportunities in nursing. The program is designed to offer career advancement opportunities to individuals who are currently working in the health field as community workers, peer health educators, medical assistants, and technicians among other similar roles.

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