DNPs Caring for the Underserved after MA Healthcare Reform

This poster provides an overview of DNPs Caring for the Underserved after MA Health Care Reform, a 3-year HRSA Advanced Education in Nursing-funded project awarded to the University Department of Nursing. Objectives are:  to recruit and retain culturally diverse DNP students, to prepare a DNP workforce to provide culturally competent evidence-based care focusing on health promotion and chronic disease prevention and management to underserved populations, and to enhance skills of DNPs to assume leadership, advocacy and nurse educator roles. Activities to meet the objectives include outreach and continued interactions with diverse nurses on a DNP trajectory, student support services, and delivery of a high quality curriculum by interdisciplinary faculty focusing on cultural competency, health promotion and chronic disease management, as well as leadership, management and educator competencies. The project is designed to help achieve goals to increase life expectancy, improve quality of life and eliminate health disparities for culturally diverse populations living in underserved communities. The Community Health Center and Evercare, a long-term care provider for frail elders, are community partners.

                The grant will allow us to offer programming in working with underserved populations, including scholarly projects and practica, provide additional content on cultural sensitivity, and recruit students who are interested in working with underserved populations. Specifically some of the grant components include:

Development of Back to College modules on writing skills, library resources, academic integrity, and APA format

Diversity consultant to work with faculty on retaining and recruiting diverse students and faculty, and cultural competency training for          students

Curriculum and evaluation consultant

Biostatistician consultant to work with DNP students on scholarly project

Developing a mentoring program

Program Manager who will assist with programming, recruitment, and be a resource for the program

Diversity Scholar who will provide seminars and programs related to diversity and cultural issues in health care

Seminars with speakers related to working with underserved populations

Developing modules on working with underserved populations

Acquiring media about working with the underserved and cultural competency

DNP student assistants to recruit students who work in or desire to work in underserved areas