News Release
For Additional Information, Contact Jim Nelson/Media Relations
(304) 327-4103, jnelson@bluefieldstate.edu
(Bluefield)—The Bluefield State College School of Nursing and Allied Health has accepted an invitation to participate in a nationwide study designed to help increase the number of highly qualified nurses, with specific emphasis on increasing the number of highly qualified African American nurses, entering the profession and in meeting the nation’s need to overcome health disparities and improve minority patient health.
Coordinated by the Winston Salem State University “Center of Excellence for the Elimination of Health Disparities,” the National Strategy Study will involve 53 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs) including BSC. The nursing shortage in America is exacerbated by the ratio of only 1 African American nurse for every 328 African Americans in the United States. Study organizers note that “African American patients have better health care outcomes when care is given by African American providers, making the need to produce more African American Registered Nurses vitally important.”
The National Strategy Study will consider a variety of topics, including curriculum and course development prototype, strategies for teaching at-risk students, conferences to share best practices, consultation with HBCU nursing programs, and reviewing national policies and rules related to National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) for Registered Nurses.
“A primary goal of this initiative is to develop environments at our 53 HBCU/PBI baccalaureate and associate degree nursing programs that will produce sufficient numbers of registered nurses, and more specifically, African American registered nurses,” noted Dr. Betty Rader, Dean/BSC School of Nursing and Allied Health. “Our participation in this study will provide insight, perspective, and the opportunity for networking and collaboration as we address this important issue.”
February 18, 2008
School of Nursing and Allied Health
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