|
AACN,
HISPANIC ORGANIZATIONS JOIN IN PACT TO BOOST
NURSING EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES
WASHINGTON,
D.C., June 15, 2000 -- In a new collaborative agreement, the
American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) has joined
with two major national associations to provide Hispanic students
with expanded access to nursing education opportunities.
Under
the agreement of intent signed with the Hispanic
Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) and the
National Association of Hispanic
Nurses (NAHN), AACN will establish a partnership relationship
with the two groups to increase participation of Hispanics
in nursing, the nation's largest health care profession.
"Health
professionals who understand the cultures, values, and conditions
in different population groups are essential to high-quality
care and positive patient outcomes," says AACN President Carolyn
A. Williams, PhD, RN, FAAN. "Diversity is an essential long-term
goal to ensure that nursing and other health professions curricula
are culturally relevant for minority populations who, by the
year 2050, are projected to comprise nearly half of all Americans.
AACN is committed to quality health care delivery through
a highly skilled and diverse nursing workforce, and we are
pleased to be partnering with HACU and NAHN in this vitally
important effort."
"HACU
and its member institutions are proud to join forces with
AACN and NAHN to bolster the Hispanic ranks in the nursing
profession. HACU values organizations like these which realize
the contributions Hispanics can make to the overall well-being
of our country," says Antonio R. Flores, PhD, president and
CEO of HACU.
"More
than ever before, education is the fault line between those
who will prosper in the new economy and those that will not,"
says NAHN President Carmen J. Portillo, PhD, RN, FAAN. "NAHN
appreciates the opportunity to be involved in this synergy
of events particularly with organizations that value the importance
of Hispanics in higher education and in nursing, at the same
time building on our respective strengths. NAHN is committed
to promoting Hispanic nurses to improve the health of our
communities -- and one way to accomplish our mission is by
offering more educational opportunities to Hispanics. NAHN
looks forward to this capacity development effort with AACN
and HACU."
Although
representing 28 percent of the population, racial and ethnic
minorities comprise only about 10 percent of the nation's
2.5 million registered nurses. Hispanics, whose numbers in
the U.S. have grown by more than 40 percent since 1990, account
for an estimated 11.7 percent of all Americans, but less than
2 percent of RNs, according to Census Bureau and other federal
data. By 2025, Hispanic Americans are projected to comprise
more than 18 percent of the U.S. population.
Despite
such growth, Hispanics accounted for only 4.5 percent of students
enrolled in baccalaureate nursing programs in fall 1999 and
slightly more than 5 percent of students in master's- and
doctoral-degree nursing programs, AACN's latest annual survey
found. "Clearly, far greater gains must be achieved to assure
talented Hispanic students with full opportunity to contribute
to nursing at a time when the demand for high-quality, accessible,
and culturally relevant nursing care is accelerating across
all settings," Dr. Williams explains.
Under
the agreement, AACN, HACU and NAHN will work to increase the
number of Hispanics enrolled in and completing baccalaureate
and graduate-degree nursing education programs. In particular,
the three organizations will assist each other to encourage
member schools to allocate resources and create activities
to increase recruitment and retention of Hispanic students
in nursing education.
Among
their efforts, the three groups will work to expand Hispanic
students' awareness of the wide range of career options available
in nursing, with a particular emphasis on scientific and academic
roles in the profession; promote nursing as a career of choice
for Hispanics attending AACN- and HACU-member institutions;
and recruit nursing students for participation in the HACU
National Internship Program, which places undergraduate and
graduate Hispanic students in federal and corporate internships
across the nation.
The American Association of
Colleges of Nursing is the national voice for university and
four-year-college education programs in nursing. Representing
more than 570 member schools of nursing at public and private
institutions nationwide, AACN's educational, research, governmental
advocacy, data collection, publications, and other programs
work to establish quality standards for bachelor's- and graduate-degree
nursing education, assist deans and directors to implement
those standards, influence the nursing profession to improve
health care, and promote public support of baccalaureate and
graduate nursing education, research, and practice. See http://www.aacn.nche.edu.
# # #
CONTACT:
Robert Rosseter
(202) 463-6930, x231
rrosseter@aacn.nche.edu
|
