MinorityNurse.com

Vital Signs

Hispanic nursing students: a recruitment priority

In Oklahoma, the minority population is increasing faster than the majority, but its nursing workforce does not reflect this trend.

In hopes to better mirror the state's growing Hispanic population, Oral Roberts University places a special emphasis on recruiting Hispanic students.

Dr. Kenda Jezek, Dean of the Anna Vaughn College of Nursing, says the rapidly increasing Hispanic population has made recruitment in this community a priority.

In order to more effectively do so, the University recently opened the ORU Hispanic Center, the first of its kind not just in Oklahoma but at any Christian university in the nation. The center will be a place for Hispanic students, and prospective students in general, to access resources to help them achieve academically at ORU.

In 2009, 31% of the nursing majors were of an ethnic minority. That same year, the School of Nursing celebrated 100% of its 2009 graduating class passing the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses.

In order to encourage more students to study nursing, ORU is also developing a partnership with local high schools that have high Hispanic and African American representation in their student bodies. As a part of the program, ORU nursing students will teach health services and assist students with lab projects.

Oral Roberts University, as the Senior Educational Partner of the Hispanic Evangelical community, is committed to reflecting the multiethnic culture around them, said Reverend Samuel Rodriguez, President of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference.

ORU believes that increasing diversity and culture on campuses across the country will enrich and empower communities around the world.