Programs and Scholarships for Nursing Students of Color

African American, Hispanic American, Asian American, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, and Native American/Alaska Native students are enrolled in nursing programs at rates well below their share of the population. If you come from one of these backgrounds, it pays to know what programs, scholarships, and organizations exist for you.

Why diversity in nursing matters

Hospitals and health systems need nurses who can build trust with growing patient populations, including immigrant and first-generation communities where English may be limited. Nurses who share a patient's background often understand cultural beliefs and practices that shape how care is received, and that understanding changes outcomes. A diverse workforce is central to effective community care, which is why recruiting and retaining nurses of color is a priority.

The numbers show how far there is to go. There are over two million nurses in the United States, but a study by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing and the Forum of State Nursing Workforce Centers found that minorities make up 19% of the RN workforce. Communities of color also tend to have less access to care and higher rates of illness, so schools want graduates who practice with cultural awareness in underserved populations.

Affirmative action and admissions

U.S. courts have issued a series of conflicting rulings on affirmative action policies that weigh race as one factor in admissions. Some decisions curtailed those policies in states like California, Washington, and Texas; others upheld school practices on the grounds that diverse classrooms strengthen education. Check the current rules for the schools and states you are considering.

How schools support retention

Retention has been a persistent challenge, driven by family obligations and finances. Schools are responding by:

• Pairing first- and second-year students with advanced students through mentoring programs
• Building a more diverse faculty, though there are still too few doctoral-prepared nurses of color to fill those roles
• Revising curricula toward holistic, culturally sensitive care
• Expanding access through online programs and off-campus classes near the communities they serve

Scholarships for nursing students of color

Many individual schools set aside funds, and several national organizations offer awards:

• The Ethnic Minority Fellowship Program works to increase the number of nurses from underrepresented groups in psychiatric and mental health fields, offering annual stipends to pre- and postdoctoral students.
• The National Black Nurses Association offers several annual scholarships from $500 to $2,000 for NBNA members.
• The National Association of Hispanic Nurses offers scholarships to NAHN members.
• Minority Nurse Magazine sponsors annual scholarships for students with strong academic records and a demonstrated commitment to healthcare, and maintains a large scholarship database.
• Indian Health Service offers scholarships to American Indian and Alaska Native students from federally or state-recognized tribes who plan to serve native populations, open to undergraduate and graduate students across health fields.

Professional organizations

Many schools have minority nurse student groups, and several national organizations welcome student members:

• National Coalition of Ethnic Minority Nurse Associations
• National Black Nurses Association
• National Association of Hispanic Nurses
• National Alaska Native American Indian Nurses Association

Preparing nurses for diverse patients

Many programs now train students in cultural diversity before graduation, with courses on the beliefs and practices they will encounter in the communities they serve. Students are encouraged to learn new languages and are taught the different risk factors and symptoms that present across populations, preparation that matters more every year as patient populations grow more diverse.