Increasing nursing student diversity with diversity, equity, and inclusion recruitment, admissions, and enrollment practices.

Abstract

Increasing the diversity of nursing students is an essential step toward diversifying the nursing workforce. There is a growing number of publications on ways to utilize diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) principles to better attract, admit, and enroll students from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds. This paper presents a synthesis of 31 articles found on this topic. Significant findings include ensuring that DEI principles are embedded throughout a nursing school's mission, vision, values, and strategic plan. To improve recruitment, inclusive recruitment practices should be considered alongside the development of pathway and outreach programs between baccalaureate colleges of nursing and minority-serving schools and community colleges. Admission should follow holistic admission practices guided by the holistic admission rubrics. To improve the enrollment of admitted students from underrepresented backgrounds, nursing schools should consider hosting admitted student and family days and providing financial assistance for enrollment-related fees to those who qualify. This synthesis was completed in the fall of 2024. Since then, numerous socio-political changes have occurred in the United States, necessitating updated recommendations for incorporating DEI principles to diversify the nursing workforce. A discussion of these recommendations based on findings from this synthesis is presented.