Creating Collaborative Relationships With Historically Black Colleges and Universities An Approach to Diversifying the Nursing Workforce

Background: The lack of a diverse nursing workforce and inclusive nursing student pipeline initiatives can impact existing health disparities in the United States. Problem: Gaps in the representation of future Black nurses in schools of nursing provide missed opportunities for cultural congruence and awareness. Approach: Developing collaborative relationships with historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) for recruitment is a mutually beneficial strategy. Undergraduate interns from 3 HBCUs attended a 6-week summer nursing immersion program at a graduate school of nursing on the campus of a predominately White institution. The aim was to provide awareness of the nursing profession and mentorship for further exploration into the profession. Conclusions: The program managed by Black nurse faculty provides a recruitment strategy that serves as a framework to support the financial, emotional, and social needs of prospective Black nursing students.