Diversity grant to benefit students, communities

For more than twelve years, Associate Professor Julie Kruse, PhD, RN, has steadfastly worked on research projects aimed at increasing diversity among the nursing workforce – and a recent multi million-dollar grant further moves the SON’s momentum forward with this important goal.

“I believe this grant will be a great adjunct to the work that OU’s School of Nursing is already doing and will provide us with additional resources to allow for expanded opportunities for students, faculty and staff, as related to diversity, equity and inclusion goals,” Kruse said.

The SON received a four-year, $2.2 million grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), which will aid in increasing nursing progression, graduation and retention rates for a population that’s underrepresented among RNs: those from diverse and/or disadvantaged backgrounds (specifically racial/ethnic minorities).

“The program will support student scholarships; cultural development for students, faculty and staff; holistic admission processes; and community partnerships,” said Dean Judy Didion, PhD, RN.

Developed under the leadership of Kruse, with assistance from her project team, the OU nursing workforce diversity project is known as ASPIRE (“Achieving Success through Professionalism, Integrity, Resilience and Engagement”). ASPIRE’s objectives are focused on creating lasting, positive effects at the individual, group, SON, OU and community levels.

A sense of community

The ASPIRE program will use evidence-based, interdisciplinary, multi-level partnership models, approaches and strategies to increase the understanding of/serve as solutions to a variety of issues pertaining to diversity/equity issues that affect students, faculty, staff and practicing nurses within the community. Specifically, the program design includes a systems approach that utilizes evidence-based strategies related to student support services; student and faculty recruitment; mentoring; student financial support (i.e., scholarships and stipends); holistic review (HRSA key evidence-based strategy); collaborative partnerships (within the SON and external); and diversity, equity and inclusion education within the SON.

At an important grass-roots level, an overarching goal of the program is to better serve the local community with a diverse nursing workforce that’s responsive to the variety of cultural needs in Southeast Michigan.

Thanks to the ASPIRE grant, 24 new nursing students received scholarships/stipends this school year, beginning their educational journey within the SON.