141st APHA Annual Meeting

In This section

281998
Workforce diversity and health equity for all

Tuesday, November 5, 2013 : 9:10 AM - 9:30 AM

Jean Swinney, PhD, RN , School of Nursing, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA
Candida Brooks-Harrison, BS, MSW , School of Education-Department of Graduate Special Education, Brooklyn College - CUNY, Brooklyn, NY
May T. Dobal, PhD, RN , Long Island University - Brooklyn, School of Nursing, Brooklyn, NY
This initiative addresses the goal of achieving health equity for underrepresented populations by addressing the link associated with health disparities and workforce diversity by recruiting, mentoring, supporting and graduating a more diverse workforce. In addition, when diverse nursing students are recruited from external geographical areas, there is a greater possibility upon graduation they will return to their respective communities to work.

The Achieving Diversity Initiative believes that by creating opportunities and providing support for area students, they will be more inclined to choose a career in nursing and remain in their home community. The work of the ADI is based upon reflective practice and the SAFER Model (Swinney & Dobal, 2004) that supports participants socially, academically, financially and economically to promote retention, graduation and entry into the workforce among minority and disadvantaged students.

We nurture, support, and monitor progress of participating students. We take personal interest in students and their families in participating schools of nursing, middle and high schools. Students presently in nursing school participate and mentor students in high school. Community college and University students work together and are actively engaged in mentoring. They also serve as excellent exemplars to the students and future nurses of tomorrow We will share results and discuss opportunities to enroll and gain admittance into a nursing program based on our experience with reflective practice and the Achieving Diversity Initiative.

Learning Areas:
Diversity and culture
Public health or related education
Public health or related nursing

Learning Objectives:
Identify at least three key elements or activities associated with student support and success. Discuss the role of reflective practice in sucessful student and community engagement.

Keywords: Health Disparities, Underserved Populations

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I earned my BSN and Master’s in Nursing at New York University, and my doctorate at the University of Texas at Austin. My career has been dedicated to providing quality care to vulnerable populations through my teaching, research and practice both in the United States and Africa with the Botswana Meharry Project where I managed and coordinated activities between the Public Health Team, the Ministry of Health, USAID, and Meharry Medical College.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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