PROJECT SUMMARY / ABSTRACT - Powerpoint Presentation <pdf file>
Needs Assessment:
One goal of Healthy People 2010 is to improve access to comprehensive, high-quality health care services in order to eliminate health disparities and increase the quality and years of healthy life for all persons in the United States. A diverse, representative nursing workforce is part of the solution to improving health status indicators for disadvantaged and rural populations. Access to nursing services is complicated by the current and projected nursing shortage. In Hawai’i, the shortage is estimated to be twice that of the national shortage with a 24% shortfall in 2020. Because the State is island-based and disproportionately populated, the outer islands, consisting of mostly rural and underserved areas, will experience the nursing shortage to an even greater extent than the island of O’ahu. A representative nursing workforce is also important for making improvements in health status indicators since minority health professionals are best able to provide culturally competent nursing care and are more apt to serve in underserved areas. Hawai’i currently has a disproportionately larger number of nurses who are Female and Caucasian as compared to the State’s population and fewer African-American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, Mixed (two or more races), and Hispanic nurses.
Purpose:
The purpose of the Program for the Retention of Nursing students (PRNs) is to improve the nursing workforce diversity in Hawai’i through a program of educational opportunities and support in order to improve success as measured by graduation rates and NCLEX-RN licensure for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds in rural Hawai’i.
Methodology:
PRNs consists of the implementation and evaluation of three separate elements: (a) A Retention Program that will serve to diminish academic and social barriers by providing tutorial resources and a support structure; (b) A Pre-Entry Educational Program that will decrease academic barriers by improving test-taking, writing, and computer skills prior to entry into nursing school; and (c) Financial support as part of the Student Stipend and Scholarship Program to decrease environmental barriers that disadvantaged students typically cite as a major reason for attrition. The target population for this program is educationally or economically disadvantaged nursing students at Hawai’i Community College, Kaua’i Community College, and Maui Community College. The goals are to increase the number of: (a) Diverse role models in the community, thereby diminishing racial/ethnic disparities in the nursing workforce; (b) Graduating disadvantaged nurses resulting in the provision of culturally competent nursing care and a reduction of health disparities in rural Hawai'i; and (c) NCLEX-RN licensed disadvantaged nurses who will ensure safe, competent nursing care to their rural communities. |
Newsletter 
Reports & Publications 
