Recognizing the essential need for adequately educated and trained nurses, University Hospitals has placed a direct focus on the recruitment and retention of minority nursing professionals. As our nurses play a vital role in the lives of patients, we are determined to create a cultural environment to sustain minority excellence and to accurately reflect the community our nursing staff serves. UH is committed to recruiting and retaining skilled nurses directly from the community, and we actively encourage their advancement through financial and educational support and leadership programs.

UH has also set as a goal to increase the percentage of its minority nursing staff to 20 percent by 2010 – the national average, according to the American Nurses Association. By 2005, 14 percent of UH's nurses were minorities.

Minority Nurse Forum

The Minority Nurse Forum is a key element in the recruitment and retention of minority nurses. The mission of this forum is twofold: a) to encourage the interfacing of minority nurses through involvement in professional organizations, educational advancement and community outreach and b) to expand the leadership involvement of minority nurses through professional activities, program development and community activity.

The Minority Nurses forum seeks to help UH nurses and other personnel to become culturally competent in caring for a diverse population. Working with other disciplines and the community, we will educate in the health care areas that affect our communities.

The program values:

• Advanced education of minority nurses
• Culturally competent nurses
• Membership and involvement in hospital and community-based organizations and committees
• Communities informed about health issues
• A progressive organization