Increasing Diversity in the Advanced Practice Nursing Workforce Through Partnerships with Historically Black Colleges

Abstract

Background: Health inequities have enhanced efforts to diversify the nursing workforce. Despite recruitment strategies, the percentage of Black nurse practitioners (NPs) lags in comparison with the populous. Problem: Barriers to improving workforce diversity can be traced to academic nursing's lack of diversity in faculty, under-resourced education opportunities for students from underrepresented backgrounds, and historical hurdles. Approach: One systems-level approach to increasing NP workforce diversity is developing pathway programs aimed at preparing, recruiting, and supporting Black students into advanced practice nursing education. Current undergraduate RN students from 2 historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) attended a 1-week summer immersion program at a graduate school of nursing at a predominately White institution. Conclusion: Pathway programs for Black undergraduate RN students show promise for increasing awareness of graduate nursing, offering race and ethnicity concordant mentorship, and cultivating deep awareness for health equity.