Why do nursing squads seem so homogeneous? Maybe it is because they wear the same scrubs and do the same chores all day. However, they aren't merely identical robots, nor should they be. They come from different backgrounds and bring a variety of life experiences and skills that make them uniquely qualified to assist patients in their specific situations.

Diversity - do right

Diversity is a big topic when discussing the modern workplace today. There are endless debates on what diversity means and how to achieve it. In the medical field, diversifying the nursing staff is more crucial than ever. Nurses make up the majority of hospital staff, so having a diverse team of nurses can improve patient care. Nurses who look like their patients and can speak the same language will be better equipped to understand how patients feel. Many studies suggest that having a more diverse nursing squad improves patient satisfaction, lower medical errors, and higher hospital ratings. The benefits of diversity are endless. So how can you build a diverse nursing squad? Here are some tips that will prove useful

Employ nursing leaders:

To achieve diversity in your nursing staff, you must have an open recruitment process that assesses all applicants on a level playing field regardless of race or gender. Moreover, you must consider hiring professionals with a terminal degree in nursing for exemplary and inclusive leadership in the modern workplace. Encouraging employed nurse managers to enroll in and complete DNP Programs online is another option. Investing in employee up-gradation has a better ROI. Also, the online route presents nurses with a more flexible way to upskill.

Approach young minds:

As a hospital recruiter, you can try approaching young minds in nursing schools/colleges by conducting awareness seminars on diversity in health care. Let students know how hiring more diverse nurses helps medical centers maintain good relationships with patients and provides better working conditions for employees.

Encourage minority nursing students

Inclusivity starts with the recruitment process. You can encourage minority nursing students to join your squad by reaching out to them directly or attending healthcare career fairs and other events explicitly targeting underrepresented groups in the nursing field.

Look for nursing candidates overseas:

The United States is not the only country with a surplus of talented nurses. Many countries are desperate for hiring more trained nurses because of varying reasons. If you're willing to look beyond our borders, you'll find an abundance of qualified candidates who will bring diverse skills and experiences to your workplace.

Partner with Diverse Organizations:

There are countless organizations dedicated to promoting diversity in all industries, including healthcare. Partnering with these organizations provides networking opportunities and collaboration on initiatives.

Train your nurses:

If you have already hired the people, offer all the support and training needed to improve their performance. It will help them adjust with other members of the team who come from different backgrounds.

Invest in cultural and sensitivity training. Remember, the best way for new ideas is through exposure. Therefore, try hosting educational events related to diversifying the workforce and inviting people from different backgrounds. Ensure nurses are aware of nuances from other cultures and religions to handle different patients and respect their values.

Some stats on diversity in nursing

• According to the 2014 U.S. Census Bureau, 27 percent of employed registered nurses were people of color or ethnicity. In 1992, it was just 11%.
• According to a 2017 poll conducted by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) and The Forum of State Nursing Workforce Centers, 19.2 percent of the registered nurse (RN) workforce comprises nurses from minority backgrounds.
• On the other hand, the RN workforce comprises 80.8% White/Caucasian individuals, 6.2% African Americans, 7.5% Asians. 5.3% Hispanics, 0.4 percent American Indians/Alaskans Native, 0.5 Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders, 1.7 percent persons from more than one race, and 2.9 percent of other nurses (numbers derived from ISRN Database).
• The NCSBN survey also revealed that men make up 9.1% of the RN workforce, a 1.1 percent increase over 2015 when they made up 8.7%. The most significant representation of men was in a nurse anesthetist's role (41%).
  
  

Benefits of a diverse nursing squad

Culturally sensitive and safer care:
As the patient base evolves, nurses must understand how to implement culturally sensitive and safe care. It will help them provide more customized services for patients from different cultures, ethnicities, or backgrounds. With a diverse nursing squad, there are better chances of having members who can smoothly accommodate these changes in the healthcare industry.

Provide quality service:
A mix of people with varied experiences allows your team to work together on tasks and offer their expertise where needed.

New perspective:
Having a diverse group also offers you unique views when making decisions. It helps avoid biases by breaking down stereotypes among team members. This way, they're able to improve collaboration & communication.

Some other benefits of a diverse team include:

• Increased comfort levels
• More innovation
• Enhanced understanding
• Higher retention
• Reduced health disparities

Conclusion

This article mentions a few tips on building a diverse nursing squad. Diversity involves bringing together a team of nurses that work well together and offer skills in different areas. It will help ensure your healthcare organization can always provide excellent care to those who need it most!