[Music] okay that’s nursing workforce that he’s
okay that’s nursing workforce that he’s
okay that’s nursing workforce that he’s talking about so anyway sorry about the
talking about so anyway sorry about the
talking about so anyway sorry about the intro slide I know some of you feel like
intro slide I know some of you feel like
intro slide I know some of you feel like you’re back at school but I really thank
you’re back at school but I really thank
you’re back at school but I really thank you for coming and talking with us today
you for coming and talking with us today
you for coming and talking with us today as I share with you how I feel like that
as I share with you how I feel like that
as I share with you how I feel like that we can lead the way in addressing
we can lead the way in addressing
we can lead the way in addressing nursing workforce diversity so this is
nursing workforce diversity so this is
nursing workforce diversity so this is me now as you can see but the question
me now as you can see but the question
me now as you can see but the question is who was i before I was this clinical
is who was i before I was this clinical
is who was i before I was this clinical nurse a commander in the United States
nurse a commander in the United States
nurse a commander in the United States Navy and of course this awesome
Navy and of course this awesome
Navy and of course this awesome professor well I was one of six children
professor well I was one of six children
professor well I was one of six children I was raised in a two-parent household
I was raised in a two-parent household
I was raised in a two-parent household with a stay-at-home mom and you know all
with a stay-at-home mom and you know all
with a stay-at-home mom and you know all of that sounds really good
of that sounds really good
of that sounds really good but what I can actually tell you is that
but what I can actually tell you is that
but what I can actually tell you is that I’m a picture perfect example of why we
I’m a picture perfect example of why we
I’m a picture perfect example of why we should seek a greater understanding of
should seek a greater understanding of
should seek a greater understanding of the social determinants of health and
the social determinants of health and
the social determinants of health and that’s not just for our patients but
that’s not just for our patients but
that’s not just for our patients but it’s for a better understanding of the
it’s for a better understanding of the
it’s for a better understanding of the what our professional students are
what our professional students are
what our professional students are addressing and the barriers that they
addressing and the barriers that they
addressing and the barriers that they have to achieving higher level education
have to achieving higher level education
have to achieving higher level education so my family faced many struggles and my
so my family faced many struggles and my
so my family faced many struggles and my father was a very successful business
father was a very successful business
father was a very successful business owner of a women’s boutique in
owner of a women’s boutique in
owner of a women’s boutique in Cincinnati Ohio but at the height of
Cincinnati Ohio but at the height of
Cincinnati Ohio but at the height of racial tensions his store was bombed so
racial tensions his store was bombed so
racial tensions his store was bombed so fearing for our safety we moved and
fearing for our safety we moved and
fearing for our safety we moved and eventually ended up in Atlanta Georgia
eventually ended up in Atlanta Georgia
eventually ended up in Atlanta Georgia this move changed our status so now our
this move changed our status so now our
this move changed our status so now our family went from being very well-off to
family went from being very well-off to
family went from being very well-off to living in a state of poverty the
living in a state of poverty the
living in a state of poverty the struggles continued when my older sister
struggles continued when my older sister
struggles continued when my older sister was diagnosed with cancer and because we
was diagnosed with cancer and because we
was diagnosed with cancer and because we didn’t have health care it really put a
didn’t have health care it really put a
didn’t have health care it really put a limitation on the type of treatment she
limitation on the type of treatment she
limitation on the type of treatment she would receive there were also issues of
would receive there were also issues of
would receive there were also issues of domestic violence and what I learned
domestic violence and what I learned
domestic violence and what I learned later on is that these stressors are
later on is that these stressors are
later on is that these stressors are really often related to poverty
really often related to poverty
really often related to poverty and while we always have food and
and while we always have food and
and while we always have food and shelter things like new clothes which is
shelter things like new clothes which is
shelter things like new clothes which is what I account the fact that I have a
what I account the fact that I have a
what I account the fact that I have a very serious compulsive disorder when it
very serious compulsive disorder when it
very serious compulsive disorder when it comes to shopping but new clothes and
comes to shopping but new clothes and
comes to shopping but new clothes and frivolous items just weren’t an option
frivolous items just weren’t an option
frivolous items just weren’t an option so what I did was join the Navy I wanted
so what I did was join the Navy I wanted
so what I did was join the Navy I wanted to be able to support myself and at this
to be able to support myself and at this
to be able to support myself and at this time I was able to go to Community
time I was able to go to Community
time I was able to go to Community College I moved to Durham after I
College I moved to Durham after I
College I moved to Durham after I married and I was employed by Duke and
married and I was employed by Duke and
married and I was employed by Duke and at the time Duke Hospital had a
at the time Duke Hospital had a
at the time Duke Hospital had a wonderful program that allowed me to be
wonderful program that allowed me to be
wonderful program that allowed me to be a full-time person I was working 20
a full-time person I was working 20
a full-time person I was working 20 hours I was being paid for 40 and then I
hours I was being paid for 40 and then I
hours I was being paid for 40 and then I was also have my full undergraduate
was also have my full undergraduate
was also have my full undergraduate nursing tuition paid for and the
nursing tuition paid for and the
nursing tuition paid for and the importance of this will become clear as
a young neonatal nurse I care for the
a young neonatal nurse I care for the tiniest most vulnerable patients and I
tiniest most vulnerable patients and I
tiniest most vulnerable patients and I worked as an integral member of a very
worked as an integral member of a very
worked as an integral member of a very complex health care team the preterm
complex health care team the preterm
complex health care team the preterm infants were brought to us from all over
infants were brought to us from all over
infants were brought to us from all over the state and region and they really had
the state and region and they really had
the state and region and they really had their worried parents right behind them
their worried parents right behind them
their worried parents right behind them the families that I touched were a rich
the families that I touched were a rich
the families that I touched were a rich diversity of families that were parents
diversity of families that were parents
diversity of families that were parents and caregivers who were young and old
and caregivers who were young and old
and caregivers who were young and old rich and poor Asian black Hispanic it
rich and poor Asian black Hispanic it
rich and poor Asian black Hispanic it was really truly a tapestry of diversity
was really truly a tapestry of diversity
was really truly a tapestry of diversity that resembled the world that we live in
that resembled the world that we live in
that resembled the world that we live in I love this professional role and I
I love this professional role and I
I love this professional role and I still do when I get the opportunity to
still do when I get the opportunity to
still do when I get the opportunity to work in the unit and I was empowered
work in the unit and I was empowered
work in the unit and I was empowered each day to be the voice of those micro
each day to be the voice of those micro
each day to be the voice of those micro humans who were entrusted into my care
humans who were entrusted into my care
humans who were entrusted into my care as a clinical nurse I provided expert
as a clinical nurse I provided expert
as a clinical nurse I provided expert care but I also hug saying cried prayed
care but I also hug saying cried prayed
care but I also hug saying cried prayed rocked and I held those babies until
rocked and I held those babies until
rocked and I held those babies until they would leave our unit for their
they would leave our unit for their
they would leave our unit for their forever home and even now I remain in
forever home and even now I remain in
forever home and even now I remain in touch with most families and I’m able to
touch with most families and I’m able to
touch with most families and I’m able to watch most of those children
watch most of those children
watch most of those children and grow and thrive and just like all
and grow and thrive and just like all
and grow and thrive and just like all the other ICN nurses nurse practitioners
the other ICN nurses nurse practitioners
the other ICN nurses nurse practitioners physicians and other health care
physicians and other health care
physicians and other health care providers in the unit I really cared
providers in the unit I really cared
providers in the unit I really cared about survival rates infant growth and
about survival rates infant growth and
about survival rates infant growth and development safe transitions home and of
development safe transitions home and of
development safe transitions home and of course parent infant bonding but the one
course parent infant bonding but the one
course parent infant bonding but the one thing that was not like all the other
thing that was not like all the other
thing that was not like all the other team members was that I was only one of
team members was that I was only one of
team members was that I was only one of five women of color in an otherwise
five women of color in an otherwise
five women of color in an otherwise white homogeneous unit that was home to
white homogeneous unit that was home to
white homogeneous unit that was home to over 225 nurses when I was enrolled of
over 225 nurses when I was enrolled of
over 225 nurses when I was enrolled of my undergraduate program at North
my undergraduate program at North
my undergraduate program at North Carolina Central University because the
Carolina Central University because the
Carolina Central University because the minority was the majority I really
minority was the majority I really
minority was the majority I really didn’t notice that these differences
didn’t notice that these differences
didn’t notice that these differences existed in this health care system but
existed in this health care system but
existed in this health care system but it didn’t deter me from being an
it didn’t deter me from being an
it didn’t deter me from being an integral member of the team but it did
integral member of the team but it did
integral member of the team but it did inspire me to look for opportunities to
inspire me to look for opportunities to
inspire me to look for opportunities to create a more diverse nursing workforce
create a more diverse nursing workforce
create a more diverse nursing workforce in the future a workforce that looked
in the future a workforce that looked
in the future a workforce that looked much more like the patients that we
much more like the patients that we
much more like the patients that we cared for so let’s fast forward a decade
cared for so let’s fast forward a decade
cared for so let’s fast forward a decade the completion of two graduate degrees
the completion of two graduate degrees
the completion of two graduate degrees and I feel like I found a way so we look
and I feel like I found a way so we look
and I feel like I found a way so we look at the role of nurses on both the
at the role of nurses on both the
at the role of nurses on both the frontline as well as the backbone of the
frontline as well as the backbone of the
frontline as well as the backbone of the healthcare delivery model to meet the
healthcare delivery model to meet the
healthcare delivery model to meet the needs of the community both in and
needs of the community both in and
needs of the community both in and outside of the hospital and as we live
outside of the hospital and as we live
outside of the hospital and as we live in an increasingly diverse society we
in an increasingly diverse society we
in an increasingly diverse society we need to be able to respond appropriately
need to be able to respond appropriately
need to be able to respond appropriately and sensitively and because we’re
and sensitively and because we’re
and sensitively and because we’re challenged with many inequalities in the
challenged with many inequalities in the
challenged with many inequalities in the healthcare system
healthcare system
healthcare system and also in various social systems it’s
and also in various social systems it’s
and also in various social systems it’s really our duty to identify strategies
really our duty to identify strategies
really our duty to identify strategies that will address the imbalances or the
that will address the imbalances or the
that will address the imbalances or the limitations of the system so I really
limitations of the system so I really
limitations of the system so I really felt now my goal was clear and I also
felt now my goal was clear and I also
felt now my goal was clear and I also felt an obligation to underrepresented
felt an obligation to underrepresented
felt an obligation to underrepresented minorities as well as the future
minorities as well as the future
minorities as well as the future populations that they would serve to
populations that they would serve to
populations that they would serve to identify and create interventions that
identify and create interventions that
identify and create interventions that will begin to create the environment
will begin to create the environment
will begin to create the environment that welcomes and respects everyone
that welcomes and respects everyone
that welcomes and respects everyone it’s equal access opportunity and
it’s equal access opportunity and
it’s equal access opportunity and justice my voice may be the only voice
justice my voice may be the only voice
justice my voice may be the only voice that will rise above those that are
that will rise above those that are
that will rise above those that are feeling oppression whether it’s due to
feeling oppression whether it’s due to
feeling oppression whether it’s due to race whether it’s due to financial
race whether it’s due to financial
race whether it’s due to financial status lifestyle physical limitations or
status lifestyle physical limitations or
status lifestyle physical limitations or level of education the community and the
level of education the community and the
level of education the community and the nursing profession need me as a partner
nursing profession need me as a partner
nursing profession need me as a partner to be able to advance equitable
to be able to advance equitable
to be able to advance equitable healthcare and as a nurse I now share in
healthcare and as a nurse I now share in
healthcare and as a nurse I now share in both the blessing and the burden of
both the blessing and the burden of
both the blessing and the burden of creating a greater social good and I
creating a greater social good and I
creating a greater social good and I cannot be afraid to enlighten others of
cannot be afraid to enlighten others of
cannot be afraid to enlighten others of the importance of diversity and
the importance of diversity and
the importance of diversity and inclusivity and reducing disparities in
inclusivity and reducing disparities in
inclusivity and reducing disparities in health care at first I felt my voice was
health care at first I felt my voice was
health care at first I felt my voice was only a whisper I was called on to design
only a whisper I was called on to design
only a whisper I was called on to design a summer program that would bring
a summer program that would bring
a summer program that would bring underrepresented minority to the Duke
underrepresented minority to the Duke
underrepresented minority to the Duke University School of Nursing for six
University School of Nursing for six
University School of Nursing for six weeks with the purpose of igniting their
weeks with the purpose of igniting their
weeks with the purpose of igniting their passion and interest in Nursing these
passion and interest in Nursing these
passion and interest in Nursing these first ten students really showed me the
first ten students really showed me the
first ten students really showed me the importance of mentoring and advocacy and
importance of mentoring and advocacy and
importance of mentoring and advocacy and six of the ten entered into the School
six of the ten entered into the School
six of the ten entered into the School of Nursing and graduated with their
of Nursing and graduated with their
of Nursing and graduated with their nursing degrees but they share with me
nursing degrees but they share with me
nursing degrees but they share with me that it was the passion that we
that it was the passion that we
that it was the passion that we demonstrated for their future that was
demonstrated for their future that was
demonstrated for their future that was the key to their success but it was the
the key to their success but it was the
the key to their success but it was the story of one young student that made me
story of one young student that made me
story of one young student that made me realize that I couldn’t just be an
realize that I couldn’t just be an
realize that I couldn’t just be an inspiration I had to find and help
inspiration I had to find and help
inspiration I had to find and help students find real solutions to
students find real solutions to
students find real solutions to real-life problems
real-life problems
real-life problems this student was a single mother and had
this student was a single mother and had
this student was a single mother and had many financial constraints and she came
many financial constraints and she came
many financial constraints and she came to my house one week because she didn’t
to my house one week because she didn’t
to my house one week because she didn’t have money for gas and at that time I
have money for gas and at that time I
have money for gas and at that time I noticed that her toddler was sick and I
noticed that her toddler was sick and I
noticed that her toddler was sick and I asked her what she was giving him and
asked her what she was giving him and
asked her what she was giving him and she said well I don’t have money for
she said well I don’t have money for
she said well I don’t have money for medicine and so while I was able to give
medicine and so while I was able to give
medicine and so while I was able to give her gas money and money for medicine I
her gas money and money for medicine I
her gas money and money for medicine I thought about those students who had no
thought about those students who had no
thought about those students who had no such person to depend who were they
such person to depend who were they
such person to depend who were they counting on
counting on
counting on in addition to that every semester she
in addition to that every semester she
in addition to that every semester she was struggling to pay her tuition and
was struggling to pay her tuition and
was struggling to pay her tuition and she had to depend on the kindness of
she had to depend on the kindness of
she had to depend on the kindness of family and friends the school even
family and friends the school even
family and friends the school even strangers to make her goal a reality
this really tugged at my own memories of
this really tugged at my own memories of being 16 and really wanting to attend
being 16 and really wanting to attend
being 16 and really wanting to attend college I was a high school graduate at
college I was a high school graduate at
college I was a high school graduate at 16 I was academically gifted but it was
16 I was academically gifted but it was
16 I was academically gifted but it was just because of the situation my family
just because of the situation my family
just because of the situation my family was in that I was unable to attend at
was in that I was unable to attend at
was in that I was unable to attend at that time the decision I made to join
that time the decision I made to join
that time the decision I made to join the military was in part to provide
the military was in part to provide
the military was in part to provide funds for that but I also wanted to be
funds for that but I also wanted to be
funds for that but I also wanted to be able to support myself independently the
able to support myself independently the
able to support myself independently the educational support was there but as a
educational support was there but as a
educational support was there but as a young enlisted seaman I couldn’t afford
young enlisted seaman I couldn’t afford
young enlisted seaman I couldn’t afford the cost of living and I worked many
the cost of living and I worked many
the cost of living and I worked many extra jobs to maintain so now it was
extra jobs to maintain so now it was
extra jobs to maintain so now it was clear that my voice had to become louder
clear that my voice had to become louder
clear that my voice had to become louder in order to address these real-life
in order to address these real-life
in order to address these real-life challenges my students were facing my
challenges my students were facing my
challenges my students were facing my vision is to see a healthcare system
vision is to see a healthcare system
vision is to see a healthcare system where the diversity of a nursing
where the diversity of a nursing
where the diversity of a nursing workforce is as similar to or matches
workforce is as similar to or matches
workforce is as similar to or matches the diversity of the communities we
the diversity of the communities we
the diversity of the communities we serve and while you might be sitting
serve and while you might be sitting
serve and while you might be sitting there saying why is this so important I
there saying why is this so important I
there saying why is this so important I will tell you that we have some strong
will tell you that we have some strong
will tell you that we have some strong supportive evidence from not only the
supportive evidence from not only the
supportive evidence from not only the Institute of Medicine and a ACM which is
Institute of Medicine and a ACM which is
Institute of Medicine and a ACM which is the American Association of Colleges of
the American Association of Colleges of
the American Association of Colleges of Nursing but there are various other
Nursing but there are various other
Nursing but there are various other stakeholders that agree that there is a
stakeholders that agree that there is a
stakeholders that agree that there is a strong relationship between a culturally
strong relationship between a culturally
strong relationship between a culturally diverse nursing workforce and the
diverse nursing workforce and the
diverse nursing workforce and the ability to provide quality culturally
ability to provide quality culturally
ability to provide quality culturally competent care and by failing to have
competent care and by failing to have
competent care and by failing to have nurses that resemble the diversity of
nurses that resemble the diversity of
nurses that resemble the diversity of the communities they serve they leave
the communities they serve they leave
the communities they serve they leave have many who are left feeling excluded
have many who are left feeling excluded
have many who are left feeling excluded from a system that already seems very
from a system that already seems very
from a system that already seems very distant and uncaring Duke University
distant and uncaring Duke University
distant and uncaring Duke University School of Nursing continues to make
School of Nursing continues to make
School of Nursing continues to make significant strides and I dare say we
significant strides and I dare say we
significant strides and I dare say we are a leading force in this shortage of
are a leading force in this shortage of
are a leading force in this shortage of underrepresented minor
underrepresented minor
underrepresented minor nurses and future nurse leaders but
nurses and future nurse leaders but
nurses and future nurse leaders but designing programs that really are
designing programs that really are
designing programs that really are focused on addressing the social
focused on addressing the social
focused on addressing the social determinants of health that prevent
determinants of health that prevent
determinants of health that prevent present as barriers and we advocate for
present as barriers and we advocate for
present as barriers and we advocate for interventions that meet the needs of
interventions that meet the needs of
interventions that meet the needs of these students we have a steadfast
these students we have a steadfast
these students we have a steadfast commitment to the nursing workforce to
commitment to the nursing workforce to
commitment to the nursing workforce to make it look like the America we live in
make it look like the America we live in
make it look like the America we live in so remember when I said we need to
so remember when I said we need to
so remember when I said we need to create real-life solutions the awarding
create real-life solutions the awarding
create real-life solutions the awarding of to her so nursing workforce diversity
of to her so nursing workforce diversity
of to her so nursing workforce diversity grants were powerful mechanisms that set
grants were powerful mechanisms that set
grants were powerful mechanisms that set in motion the development and
in motion the development and
in motion the development and implementation of strategies that were
implementation of strategies that were
implementation of strategies that were specifically designed to prepare
specifically designed to prepare
specifically designed to prepare underrepresented minorities for careers
underrepresented minorities for careers
underrepresented minorities for careers in nursing as well as graduate level
in nursing as well as graduate level
in nursing as well as graduate level degrees we also had to ensure the
degrees we also had to ensure the
degrees we also had to ensure the interventions address specific
interventions address specific
interventions address specific challenges that minority students
challenges that minority students
challenges that minority students encounter when attending majority
encounter when attending majority
encounter when attending majority institutions feelings of loneliness and
institutions feelings of loneliness and
institutions feelings of loneliness and isolation were two of the most
isolation were two of the most
isolation were two of the most identified barriers so it was really
identified barriers so it was really
identified barriers so it was really important to have mechanisms in place
important to have mechanisms in place
important to have mechanisms in place that would address these students not
that would address these students not
that would address these students not only academically but also socially and
only academically but also socially and
only academically but also socially and emotionally so a social worker along
emotionally so a social worker along
emotionally so a social worker along with other institutional support systems
with other institutional support systems
with other institutional support systems like Duke student wellness and Duke
like Duke student wellness and Duke
like Duke student wellness and Duke reach addresses areas that are beyond
reach addresses areas that are beyond
reach addresses areas that are beyond our capacity as faculty and while I
our capacity as faculty and while I
our capacity as faculty and while I serve as a main academic coordinator it
serve as a main academic coordinator it
serve as a main academic coordinator it is the support of our entire faculty
is the support of our entire faculty
is the support of our entire faculty that has made this program a success
that has made this program a success
that has made this program a success thirty-one students have completed the
thirty-one students have completed the
thirty-one students have completed the summer program and twenty-one who
summer program and twenty-one who
summer program and twenty-one who matriculated into our accelerator
matriculated into our accelerator
matriculated into our accelerator Bachelors of Science and nursing program
Bachelors of Science and nursing program
Bachelors of Science and nursing program all successfully completed the program
all successfully completed the program
all successfully completed the program and are working in health care systems
and are working in health care systems
and are working in health care systems across the United States
across the United States
across the United States these students are now focused on
these students are now focused on
these students are now focused on continuing their education and are now
continuing their education and are now
continuing their education and are now moving into master and doctoral level
moving into master and doctoral level
moving into master and doctoral level education with the goal of returning to
education with the goal of returning to
education with the goal of returning to communities that are underserved and
communities that are underserved and
communities that are underserved and have underrepresented populations
have underrepresented populations
have underrepresented populations so what I’d like to leave you with right
so what I’d like to leave you with right
so what I’d like to leave you with right now is a call to action in order to
now is a call to action in order to
now is a call to action in order to diversify the nursing workforce it takes
diversify the nursing workforce it takes
diversify the nursing workforce it takes more than a single strategy and a few
more than a single strategy and a few
more than a single strategy and a few schools committed to the cause the only
schools committed to the cause the only
schools committed to the cause the only way that we will achieve equity in this
way that we will achieve equity in this
way that we will achieve equity in this area is for all Health Professions to
area is for all Health Professions to
area is for all Health Professions to ask the question of what steps they’re
ask the question of what steps they’re
ask the question of what steps they’re taking or how they’re contributing to
taking or how they’re contributing to
taking or how they’re contributing to improving the gap between the number of
improving the gap between the number of
improving the gap between the number of minority health care providers and the
minority health care providers and the
minority health care providers and the number of minorities and the populations
number of minorities and the populations
number of minorities and the populations are the small communities that we serve
are the small communities that we serve
are the small communities that we serve and I assert that enhancing and creating
and I assert that enhancing and creating
and I assert that enhancing and creating an environment that is supportive and
an environment that is supportive and
an environment that is supportive and inclusive is each of our
inclusive is each of our
inclusive is each of our responsibilities while my world is
responsibilities while my world is
responsibilities while my world is health care your world can be wherever
health care your world can be wherever
health care your world can be wherever you work live or play look around and if
you work live or play look around and if
you work live or play look around and if everybody looks exactly like you no
everybody looks exactly like you no
everybody looks exactly like you no matter what your race is it is time to
matter what your race is it is time to
matter what your race is it is time to take action if you hear a voice even a
take action if you hear a voice even a
take action if you hear a voice even a whisper be sure you listen and act it
whisper be sure you listen and act it
whisper be sure you listen and act it could make all the difference in the
could make all the difference in the
could make all the difference in the world thank you
world thank you
world thank you [Applause]
”
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