Voices of Hispanic students in baccalaureate nursing programs: are we listening?
Hispanics have been described as the "missing persons" in the health professions at a time when a lack of cultural diversity in the workforce has been linked to health disparities. The shortage of Hispanic nurses cannot be addressed effectively without understanding their perspectives on nursing and nursing education. The adapted Model of Institutional Support served as a framework to describe perceived barriers and supports to retention among Hispanic students in baccalaureate nursing programs. Focus groups were used to allow the voices of Hispanic students to emerge; 14 Mexican American nursing students from two liberal arts universities participated. Theory-guided content analysis of focus group transcripts revealed themes congruent with the model components of finances, emotional and moral support, professional socialization, mentoring, academic advising, and technical support. Personal determination emerged as a theme not identified in the model. The prominence of the personal determination theme among these students warrants further study, but suggests that success may be enhanced by helping students capitalize on their personal determination.
Center for Hispanic Studies in Nursing and Health, University of Texas, Arlington School of Nursing, TX, USA. mlbond@uta.edu
Mary Lou
ML
Bond
Jennifer R
JR
Gray
Susan
S
Baxley
Carolyn L
CL
Cason
Linda
L
Denke
Michael
M
Moon
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005181:Faculty, Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration; D017144:Focus Groups; D005544:Forecasting; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008611:Mentors / Q000523:psychology; D017058:Mexican Americans / Q000193:education / Q000208:ethnology; D008800:Mexico / Q000208:ethnology; D017145:Models, Educational; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D011158:Population Growth; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012073:Remedial Teaching; D012944:Social Support; D012951:Socialization; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology; D013781:Texas; D014146:Training Support / Q000458:organization & administration; D014481:United States