Assistant Professor California State University Fullerton
What does a successful nursing student “look” like? For decades, the answer has always pointed towards grades and other traditional markers of academic achievement. As a result, we have a nursing profession whose demographic does not align with the communities they serve. We then struggle to truly understand and address social determinants of health as we provide care for an increasingly diverse population. But what if we looked at other characteristics and measures to determine which students would be successful in our programs?
Part informative, part inspirational, this discussion will provide a concrete example of why faculty should always root for the underdog. Dr. Miller, who began her nursing career as a 16-year-old CNA living in foster care in Compton, will highlight her journey through the profession and describe how faculty support gave her the strength to reach higher and achieve her academic goals. This discussion will focus on trying to better understand the background of historically excluded students and how their history of resilience can be a positive protective factor as they progress through the program. We will end by discussing specific strategies to provide mentorship and representation to increase recruitment and retention of diverse student populations.
Learning Objectives:
Understand social determinants of academic achievement and the importance of faculty connecting with students before correcting them.
Discuss specific strategies to support marginalized nursing students with achieving their academic goals.
Educate faculty on how to provide mentorship and representation to increase recruitment and retention of diverse students.
