title: A Nursing Workforce Diversity Project: Strategies for Recruitment, Retention, Graduation, and NCLEX-RN Success.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this article is to describe a collaborative project designed to recruit and retain students from underrepresented minorities and disadvantaged backgrounds into nursing education.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Ethnic minorities remain underrepresented in the nursing workforce in comparison to the general population. The numbers of minorities enrolled in nursing education programs are insufficient to meet the health care workforce diversity needs of the future.
  
  
  METHODS
  High school students were provided with a preprofessional education program to prepare them for admission into a nursing program. Retention strategies were implemented for newly admitted and enrolled nursing education students.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-one high school students enrolled in a nursing education program. The students enrolled in the nursing education program graduated and passed the licensure examination.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Early recruitment and multiprong retention programs can be successful in diversifying the registered nurse workforce.
authors.forename: Ted A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Pole
authors.forename: Erica M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Ciarlo
authors.forename: Shearon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Holmes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008008:Licensure, Nursing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010560:Personnel Selection / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015397:Program Evaluation; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult