Lack of Minority Role Models Affects Nursing Shortage 

By Jody Vilschick


Closing the Gap, First Summit Packs the House • January/February 2003


There are too few minority role models in the health care professions, according to Dr. Betty Smith Williams, 

president of the National Coalition of Minority Nurses and immediate past president 

of the National Black Nurses Association 

(NBNA). 

The National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses, conducted in 2000 by the U.S. 

Department of Health and Human Services, 

indicated that 86.6 percent of registered 

nurses are White, and just 12.3 percent are 

non-White. African American nurses make 

up the largest subgroup of minority nurses. 

This lack of diversity is a special concern 

to nurse educators concerned about the next 

generation of nurses. “Ethnic minority role 

models are essential to influencing minorities 

to pursue a career in nursing,” Williams said. 

“If they aren’t there, they cannot influence 

young minorities.” The lack of nurse role 

models also discourages minority students 

from seeing themselves as successful nurses, 

Williams said. 

This issue is acute because of the looming shortage of nurses in general. “We must 

tap minorities to fill the need for nurses,” 

Williams said. “To do that, minority role 

models must be visible. We are not yet visible.” 

According to Williams, other barriers to 

minorities seeking nursing education include: 

 Inadequate preparation for the healthcare professions in high school; 

 A lack of information about nursing as a 

profession; 

 The cost of pursuing an education in 

nursing; 

 Entrance requirements; 

 Perceived (as well as real) discrimination; 

 Isolation in schools whose students are 

mostly White; 

 Unsupportive students and faculty; 

 Family responsibilities (many students 

who are minorities must also support 

families); and 

 Financial aid that is linked to full-time 

status. 

“Some of the strategies to overcoming the 

lack of minority nurses include developing 

an approach that addresses the students’ need 

to support their families, target outreach to 

minority communities, develop programs 

that are geographically accessible as well as 

affordable for minority students, and to enhance institutional supports, such as minority student groups,” said Williams. 

Williams believes that ethnic minority 

nursing associations, such as NBNA, are well 

positioned to pursue these strategies, and to 

engage in political advocacy. NBNA’s mission includes lobbying for increased funding 

to establish a qualified cadre of nurse researchers who can address the health care issues 

that disproportionately affect African Americans, like cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, mental health, pain management, and a variety of women’s health issues. 

Programs Aimed at Increasing the Roles 

“National associations, serving ethnic or 

racial minority nurses, have a variety of programs in place to encourage members of various minority communities to enter the nursing profession,” said Williams. 

The National Association of Hispanic 

Nurses (NAHN) has two such programs. One 

is a scholarship program that helps outstanding nursing students of Hispanic ancestry. 

The other is the “adoption” of immigrants 

from Latin American countries who are licensed nurses in their original countries. The 

Miami chapter of NAHN helps these immigrant nurses to become eligible for the Board 

of Nursing Licensure Exam. In addition, it is 

working with Miami Dade Community College School of Nursing in developing an educational program for these nurses. 

continued on page 2>>>> 

Predicted Nursing Shortage in 2020* 

States with Nurse Shortages States without Nurse Shortages 

*Mapcourtesy of National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses, U.S. Department of Health and 

Human Services, Health Resources and Service Administration, Bureau of Health Professions Division of Nursing. 

Office of Minority Health Resource Center 1 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 
Lack of Minority Role Models Affects Nursing Shortage 

By Jody Vilschick


Closing the Gap, First Summit Packs the House • January/February 2003


In 1998, a group of ethnic nurse organizations, including the NBNA and NAHN, 

came together to form the National Coalition of Ethnic Minority Nurse Associations. 

The mission of the coalition is to improve the 

provision of health care to ethnic populations in the nation. Other founding organization members are the Asian American and 

Pacific Islander Nurses Association (AAPINA) 

and the National Alaska Native American Indian Nurses Association (NANAINA). 

For more information on the National 

Black Nurses Association, go to http:// 

www.nbna.org

Minority Registered Nurses Compared to the 

General Minority Population, March 2000 

U.S. Population 

69.1% 

.7% 

3.7% 

12.5% 

12.1% 

1.8% 

Race/Ethnicity 

White 

American Indian/Alaska Native 

Asian Pacific Islander 

Hispanic 

Black 

More than 2 races 

86.6% 

.5% 

3.7% 

2.0% 

4.9% 

1.2% 

RN Population 

Statistics courtesy of National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses, 

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Service Administration, 

Bureau of Health Professions, Division of Nursing. 

Lack of Minority Role Models Affects Nursing Shortage is based on the Summit workshop


Recruiting and Retaining Health Professionals, Thursday, July 11, 2002.


Office of Minority Health Resource Center 2 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services