The American Nurses Foundation has made a significant stride in promoting diversity in nursing education by awarding one of its prestigious nursing research grants, Diversify Nursing Research through Support of Minority Institutions. This initiative aims to boost the number of ethnic minority nurse researchers while broadening the diversity of research topics and perspectives. This grant is a testament to the Foundation’s commitment to supporting male nurses of color and fostering a more inclusive nursing community.
In April, Southern University and A&M College, a historically Black college (HBCU) in Louisiana, received a significant grant of $339,000. Notably, some male student nurses of color from this cohort have created a viral video on social media highlighting the positive effects of this funding.
Three minority-serving institutions were invited to apply for this grant, and a diverse, independent review panel of three nurses selected Southern University and A&M College’s proposal. The chosen project, “Workplace Racism, Perceived Stress, and Health Promoting Lifestyle Behaviors Among African American Registered Nurses,” was recognized for its thorough approach to engaging faculty, students, and early-career nurses.
“African American nurses account for 11% of the registered nurse workforce in the United States, and even less than that are African American men. Southern University School of Nursing (SUSON) is the largest producer of African American nurses in the state of Louisiana, playing a critical role in addressing racial and gender disparities in nursing,” stated Sandra C. Brown, DNS, APRN, FNP-BC, CNE, ANEF, FAANP, FAAN, Dean and Professor of the College of Nursing and Allied Health at Southern University School of Nursing. “Through support from the American Nurses Foundation, we are closing the gap and increasing the diversity of the nursing workforce to improve health outcomes in vulnerable populations.”
This three-year grant partnership arose from the need to tackle barriers faced by racial and ethnic minorities within the nursing field. As a leading supporter of nursing research, the Foundation responded to insights from the National Commission to Address Racism in Nursing workgroup, which highlighted the issues of racism in nursing research and led to the creation of this grant. The objective is to fund significant research spearheaded by diverse nurses to advance the nursing profession and foster equity and diversity of thought.
“I’m absolutely thrilled to see bright minds benefiting from the Foundation’s support of this program and excited about their future careers in nursing. The American Nurses Foundation is a leader in nurse-led research and funding opportunities for bold projects to advance the nursing profession. In that respect, we are strategic and intentional with our investments,” expressed Adriane K. Griffen, DrPH, MPH, MCHES®, Interim Executive Director and Vice President of Programs at the Foundation. “My father was a registered nurse, so this is personal for me – and this work is a great step forward in shaping the profession to be more diverse and inclusive.”
To learn more about this grant opportunity and other research initiatives sponsored by the Foundation, please visit the Foundation’s Resource Center at NursingWorld.org.
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