Diversity is a key priority at both the state and national levels and is intended to help narrow the health care disparity gap, support the importance of a diverse workforce, and help prepare nurses to care for an increasingly diverse population. By increasing diversity throughout the health care and nursing workforce, we endeavor to ensure that all Americans have access to high-quality, patient-centered care in a health care system where nurses contribute as essential partners in achieving success.
The Nurse Diversity Council (NDC) of the Pennsylvania Action Coalition is a volunteer council dedicated to promoting diversity and cultural competency in nursing to increase access to high-quality, patient-centered care in a health care system where nurses contribute as essential partners in achieving success. The NDC aims to enhance nurses’ knowledge, attitudes, and skills regarding diversity, foster culturally competent care and promote inclusion in the nursing workforce.
Key Initiatives
- Fostering culturally competent care: The Pennsylvania Action Coalition’s NDC partnered with Drexel's College of Nursing and Health Professions to present the second Pennsylvania Healthcare Mosaic conference. The 2018 conference focused on themes of health equity, cultural competence and cultural humility. Several presentations and panels explored the complex relationships between inclusion, discrimination, social determinants of health and health outcomes through both research and practical delivering perspectives
- Identify and support diversity mentorship programs: The NDC collaborates with nursing schools, professional organizations, and health systems to foster diversity and promote inclusion in the nursing pipeline. In 2018, the Pennsylvania Action Coalition supported seven organizations with grants to build a workforce inclusive of individuals underrepresented in the nursing field. Through the support and implementation of workforce development and mentorship initiatives, the NDC strives to develop a more diverse and inclusive workforce.
Nurse Diversity Council (NDC)
- NDC Membership: The NDC welcomes the expertise and engagement of anyone in Pennsylvania committed to promoting a diverse and culturally competent workforce. Members of the NDC represent diverse backgrounds throughout Pennsylvania from a variety of health and healthcare settings. The NDC members meet every other month via conference call for one hour to share progress on their action plans.
- Gracious Space: The NDC meetings and events embrace the philosophy of Gracious Space to respect and honor diversity and facilitate discussion. Gracious Space is a spirit and setting where we invite the stranger and embrace learning in public. To invite the stranger is defined as being open to diverse perspectives in order to gain clarity. To embrace learning in public is defined as truly listening to new thoughts or conflicting ideas, with openness to changing our minds.
Pennsylvania's Healthcare Mosaic Conference
Nurses of Pennsylvania Campaign
As part of the #nursesofPA campaign, the Pennsylvania Action Coalition created 21 short videos featuring nurses from across the state of Pennsylvania. These videos capture the diverse experiences of nurses from all different backgrounds, scopes of practice, geographic locations, ages, and levels of expertise. Nurses share their unique narratives and explore their journeys, challenges, and successes in nursing. Click here to access these videos.
PA-ACCEL Mentoring Program
About the Program
- The Pennsylvania Action Coalition’s Nurse Diversity Council (PA-NDC) and Lincoln University are partnering to start the PA-AC Cohort of Exchanged Learning (PA-ACCEL), a virtual mentorship program to bolster the nursing students’ capacity to be successful both in nursing school and in their transition to professional nursing practice. Mentoring provides lifelong learning and professional resilience to students and is proven to increase student retention, the success rate on NCLEX, an increased sense of socialization into the nursing profession, enhanced self-esteem, and decreased anxiety and stress 1.
- A mentee cohort of 15 senior nursing students from Lincoln University are matched with one (1) professional mentor from various nursing fields for one (1) academic year. Throughout this program mentors and mentees will meet virtually. The Program Support Team will provide helpful resources and schedule virtual workshops and program activities to help navigate the mentee-mentor relationship.
PA-ACCEL Mentor Resources
Webinars/Trainings & Diversity and Inclusion Resources
Other Mentor Resources
PA-ACCEL Student Mentee Resources
Webinars/Trainings
Scholarships & Financial Aid
Career Resources/Professional Nursing Organizations
Podcasts
Mental Health Support
Moral Resiliency
Resume Building
Career Resources
Successful Interviewing
Professional opportunities - Externships, internships, shadow experiences, etc.
