Facilitators and barriers to leadership and career opportunities in minority nurses in public health departments

Objectives Elicit information from minority public health nurses regarding experiences and opportunities for leadership development and career advancement in public health departments (PHDs). Design Qualitative research design to determine minority nurses' experiences of opportunities and barriers influencing leadership development and career advancement in PHDs. Sample Thirty-nine minority nurses from all regions of the United States participated in a telephone interview. Demographics reveal that 46% were African American or Mixed Race, 31% were Hispanic/Latina, 18% were Asian, and 5% were Indian heritage. Measurements Participants completed the researcher-designed, open-ended interview which was audio-recorded. The researcher conducted all interviews. Transcriptions were coded for major concepts and then codes were collapsed into major themes by the researcher and consultant in qualitative research. Results Six themes were identified from the data: commitment to public health, motivation for leadership development, barriers for leadership development, racism: influence on nurses from minority backgrounds, supports for leadership development, and survival skills. Conclusions Participants desired an opportunity for career advancement and leadership development, but encountered entrenched systemic/organizational barriers and obstacles in fulfilling this important role impacting healthcare delivery of minority and underrepresented groups. Public health officials and administrators are challenged to strengthen opportunities for career advancement and leadership development for minority nurses in PHDs.