| The increasing cultural, ethnic, and racial diversity in the United States affects all aspects of society, including health care. Presently, non-White persons are overrepresented in health problems. With increasing population diversity, more health care consumers will be non-Whites. Also more nursing school students will be non-Whites. There is a high attrition rate of non-Whites from schools of nursing, The implications for nursing education are that schools must prepare nurses who are responsive to the needs of diverse health care consumers and educators must be responsive to the needs of diverse student bodies.; This study explored how baccalaureate schools of nursing incorporate diversity into their programs. A qualitative study using content analysis was done on the self-study documents of 13 schools accredited by the National League of Nursing. Five major themes and 14 sub-themes emerged from the study: (1) People Different Than Us: (a) race/ethnicity/culture as diversity, (b) lifestyle as diversity, (c) religion as diversity, (d) circumstance as diversity, (e) national origin/citizenship as diversity, (f) linguistic diversity, (g) health status as diversity; (2) Struggling Toward Diversity; (3) Reflections of Diversity: (a) institutional commitment, (b) faculty diversity, (c) student diversity; (4) Insuring Diversity: (a) curricular innovations, (b) cultural encounters, (c) student support, (d) research/evaluation; and (5) Religious-Based Institutions.; Findings revealed a variable definition of diversity which included concepts other than race, ethnicity, and culture. Findings indicated that an institution's geographical location determines that institution's diversity makeup. Educational activities were identified that coincide with Banks' levels of curricular reform and dimensions of multicultural education (1994a). Diversity policies were identified which had no evidence to support their implementation. The presence of religious ethnocentrism and religious discrimination at religious-based institutions was also identified.; Findings from this study may be used by educators and administrators to help them incorporate and evaluate diversity in their programs. Findings may also assist the nursing profession in formulating a working definition of diversity and related concepts. Recommendations for nurse educators, higher education at large, nurse researchers, and nursing practice are discussed. |
