Nurse Leaders Echo Report Call for More Diversity in the Nursing Workforce

A more diverse nation needs a more diverse health care workforce, this according to a number of key black nurse leaders in this RWJF.com article. U.S. demographics have shifted considerably over the last ten years and experts project that racial minorities will represent the majority population by mid-century. Yet African Americans, Latinos and other minorities are vastly underrepresented in the nurse workforce. The recently released IOM report on the Future of Nursing says that more diversity among nurses fosters better interaction and communication with patients of a variety of all backgrounds. Linda Burnes Bolton, Dr.P.H., M.P.H., M.S.N. vice president for nursing, chief nursing officer and director of nursing research at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, who served as vice-chair of the IOM report committee said, “Caring for the emerging majority in our country requires that we have a diverse nursing workforce that is much more reflective of our populace.” Men, too, are underrepresented in the nursing workforce. William T. Lecher, R.N., M.S., M.B.A., N.E.-B.C., president of the American Assembly for Men in Nursing says his organization is working to increase the number of men in nursing 20% by 2020 and he cited his work with the Center to Champion Nursing in America to support the IOM recommendations. Read more.