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Facilitators and barriers to leadership and career opportunities in minority nurses in public health departments
Author(s) -
Fowler Barbara A.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
public health nursing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.471
H-Index - 55
eISSN - 1525-1446
pISSN - 0737-1209
DOI - 10.1111/phn.12800
Subject(s) - leadership development , qualitative research , public health , career development , nursing , demographics , health care , qualitative property , medical education , psychology , medicine , public relations , sociology , political science , social science , demography , machine learning , computer science , law
Objectives Elicit information from minority public health nurses regarding experiences and opportunities for leadership development and career advancement in public health departments (PHDs). Design Qualitative research design to determine minority nurses' experiences of opportunities and barriers influencing leadership development and career advancement in PHDs. Sample Thirty‐nine minority nurses from all regions of the United States participated in a telephone interview. Demographics reveal that 46% were African American or Mixed Race, 31% were Hispanic/Latina, 18% were Asian, and 5% were Indian heritage. Measurements Participants completed the researcher‐designed, open‐ended interview which was audio‐recorded. The researcher conducted all interviews. Transcriptions were coded for major concepts and then codes were collapsed into major themes by the researcher and consultant in qualitative research. Results Six themes were identified from the data: commitment to public health, motivation for leadership development, barriers for leadership development, racism: influence on nurses from minority backgrounds, supports for leadership development, and survival skills. Conclusions Participants desired an opportunity for career advancement and leadership development, but encountered entrenched systemic/organizational barriers and obstacles in fulfilling this important role impacting healthcare delivery of minority and underrepresented groups. Public health officials and administrators are challenged to strengthen opportunities for career advancement and leadership development for minority nurses in PHDs.