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Supporting minority nursing students: ‘Opportunity for Success’ for Ethiopian immigrants in I srael
Author(s) -
Arieli D.,
Hirschfeld M.J.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
international nursing review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.84
H-Index - 51
eISSN - 1466-7657
pISSN - 0020-8132
DOI - 10.1111/inr.12016
Subject(s) - workforce , immigration , formative assessment , nursing , ethnic group , nurse education , action (physics) , psychology , medical education , medicine , political science , pedagogy , law , physics , quantum mechanics
Aim To report on an I sraeli academic nursing project, aimed at supporting the integration of E thiopian immigrants into nursing studies. Background The representation of ethnic minorities within nursing is crucial for the provision of efficient care in diverse societies. Nevertheless, successful integration of minority students in nursing programs is not a simple task and needs developing support systems that will attract and retain students from minorities. E thiopian J ewish immigrants and their descendants in I srael form a community of 120 000 people. Their participation in the national workforce is low, as well as their average income. Methods The paper is based on formative evaluation, using action research, of an academic nursing program in I srael. Findings Four main strategies identify this project: (1) a policy of institutional commitment, (2) personal relations with staff, (3) personal tutoring, and (4) cultural safety education. The project has reached success in terms of attraction, retention and students' satisfactions. The project's two main challenges, which need further concern, are: (1) giving support without labelling and (2) supporting without creating dependency. Conclusions and International Policy Implications Appropriate strategies can enable success of minority students. Nevertheless, the amount of support needed for such programs raises two major questions: (1) To what extent should individual nursing departments be expected to bear solutions to this widely experienced problem? (2) How does focusing on one minority affect cultural safety of the overall group?