Call to Action for Hispanic / Latino Nursing Students : Seven Recommendations for Success
By Lisa K . Woodley
The long hours and heavy workload of nursing school can be daunting . Being
in one of the most underrepresented minority groups in nursing can add to that challenge . Only 5.3 % of nurses practicing in the U . S . in 2017 were Hispanic / Latino , according to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing ( 2019 ). In contrast , 19 % of the current U . S . population is Hispanic / Latino , and this number is expected to rise each year ( U . S . Census Bureau , 2018 ). To achieve health equity , we need the nursing workforce to mirror the population it serves ( American Association of Colleges of Nursing , 2017 ; National Academies of Sciences , Engineering , and Medicine , 2016 ).
Unfortunately , many Hispanic / Latino nursing students face challenges during their nursing education related to a ) having few Hispanic / Latino nursing peers and faculty b ) heavy family demands , c ) working to support themselves through school , d ) limited free time to engage in extra-curricular activities , and e ) struggling to feel a sense of belonging in nursing .
Hispanic / Latino nursing students may wonder , “ How can I thrive within nursing school so that I can successfully enter the nursing profession ?” This very question was posed to 11 Hispanic / Latino new graduates from three baccalaureate nursing programs in the Southeastern U . S as part of a larger research study on their lived experience . These new graduates were asked to share their advice with current Hispanic / Latino nursing students . Here are the seven recommendations they had .
# 1 . Ask questions Every graduate emphasized the need to ask questions . Many had worried about looking “ dumb ” in front of their peers and had been quiet in class . This was , in part , because very little of the content and images in their classes reflected Hispanic / Latino people and their health conditions . If they had to do it all over again , these graduates stressed the need to challenge the status quo .
By asking questions , you introduce topics important for the class and future colleagues in nursing to learn about . Examples include how particular health conditions impact minority populations , how culture impacts patients ’ health beliefs and practices , and how to best carry out nursing skills with non-English speaking patients . In the process , you stimulate learning for everyone in your class and influence change in the learning environment . “ Never be afraid to ask questions , even if you feel like others are going to judge you . Just ask . Use your voice ,” said one new graduate . Another pointed out , “ You ’ re learning ! Who isn ’ t ? Someone else was probably thinking that same thing !”
16 NSNA IMPRINT n FEBRUARY / MARCH 2021 n www . nsna . org