Barriers To Diversity In Nursing

Diversity, especially in the workforce, enhances both rational decision making and efficiency. Different cultures ultimately influence the manner in which people perceive, identify, define, and solve problems in the workplace (Andrews & Boyle, 2016). The purpose of this discussion board post is to define diversity and to explore the benefits of a diverse health care workforce. Furthermore, I will also discuss barriers to diversity in the nursing profession. Lastly, I will reflect on my own diverse cultural background and consider how it affects the nursing care that I provide. Workplace diversity is defined as the differences between individuals in the work setting that may evoke the idea that one individuals perception differs from others
A major barrier to diversity in the nursing profession is that students from minority groups are facing difficulties gaining admission into nursing programs. Not only do these underrepresented populations face these hurdles, but colleges also fail in attempts to reach out to students of diverse cultural backgrounds. Of the almost three million registered nurses in the United States, approximately only sixteen point eight percent have been identified as belonging to an ethnic minority group (Murray, Pole, Ciarlo, & Holmes, 2016). Another barrier to diversity is the consistent increase in cost of higher education programs and insufficient financial aid that is made available. In 2009, the Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration, created funding to increase the opportunities for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds or ethnic minorities to help with entering the nursing profession (Murray, Pole, Ciarlo, & Holmes, 2016). By increasing recruitment and retention efforts as well as supporting nurses entering nursing programs, the ability to produce a more diverse workforce is