Creating a diverse population of nurses ? beyond the stereotype of a white woman in a white uniform ? builds trust among minority patients, research shows.
But in Maryland, where 19 percent of nurses are black, universities would have to graduate an additional 550 black students every year for a decade before the proportion of black nurses would even come close to reflecting the race of the patients they serve.
Health care professionals said they hope a new nursing program at historically black Morgan State University will help alleviate the state?s nursing shortage, particularly the dearth of black nurses.
“Diversity in nursing is a really serious problem,” said Kathleen Galbraith, director of Morgan State?s new nursing program. “African-Americans are extremely under represented.”
The key to fixing Maryland?s nursing shortage ? expected to grow to 7,000 in 2010 and more than 12,000 in 2015 ? is encouraging practicing registered nurses to return to school for their master?s degrees so they can teach the next generation of nurses, Galbraith said.
Minority health care providers are more likely to help underserved communities, boost minority patients? reported level of satisfaction, eradicate cultural barriers and increase the achievement of all college students, according to research from the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies.
Morgan?s nursing program, which starts this month, offers concentrations in either nursing education or leadership for nurses who want management positions.
With Saturday classes and online assignments, students in the new program can continue working while obtaining their degrees.
Morgan will add bachelor?s and doctoral degrees in nursing this fall.
Nearly 800 qualified applicants to nursing programs at University of Maryland, Baltimore, Coppin State University and Towson University were turned away in 2005 because of a lack of faculty and space, according to a capacity study.
Last year, 42,000 qualified applicants to nursing programs across the nation were denied admission.
