AACN Diversity Symposium Poster Showcase

Enhancing Diversity in Nursing: Promoting Nursing as a Career to Underrepresented High School Students


Poster

Nurses from minority backgrounds account for only 19.2% of the Registered Nurse (RN) workforce population (Smiley et al., 2018). Thus, the increased need to enhance diversity in nursing is in high demand. Additionally, there has been a recent push among nursing schools to diversify their student bodies. There is a great necessity for the nursing profession to appeal to students from underrepresented groups. Underrepresented groups represent the largest population in the United States. Earlier exposure to the nursing field is a great method to attract underrepresented students and improve academic advancement in the nursing profession. The University of South Alabama College of Nursing (USACON) Diversity and Inclusion Council has set initiatives in place to expose underrepresented students to the nursing profession.

One initiative utilized by the USACON Diversity and Inclusion Council is student recruitment from local high schools where predominantly underrepresented, minority students are enrolled. Another initiative utilized by the USACON Diversity and Inclusion Council is faculty video recordings for local high school students who are enrolled in the Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA). The video recordings give students information about the nursing profession and how to advance in the field of nursing after high school graduation. As nurses, we strive for a nursing workplace that resembles the diversity of the nation’s population. These methods among others can help bridge the diversity and inclusion gap seen in the nursing workforce. Diversity is imperative for the nursing profession to eliminate health disparities and advance towards achieving health equity.

Kimberly Jordan DNP, RN
Assistant Professor
University of South Alabama


Biography:

Dr. Kimberly Jordan is a assistant professor at the University of South Alabama in Mobile, Alabama. Dr. Jordan completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) in 2006 and her Master of Science of Nursing (MSN) in 2011 from the University of South Alabama. In 2018, Dr. Jordan completed her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama.

Dr. Jordan's practice experience specializes in the care of patients with long-term care/rehabilitation injuries, orthopedic injuries, and cardiac injuries. Dr. Jordan consistently promotes evidence-based practice and holistic patient care to students to advance healthcare outcomes.


Phone: (251) 209-7278
Email: kimberlyjordan@southalabama.edu

Co-Author(s):
Shanda Scott, DNP, CRNP, ANP-BC, University of South Alabama