Using Multicultural Instruction to Teach Today's Ethnically and Racially Diverse Learner

Strengthening The Teacher’s Capacity to Promote Diversity in Nursing: A Recipe for Multicultural Instruction Minority representation in nursing fails to mirror the culturally and ethnically diverse population it serves. Underrepresentation of minorities in nursing significantly challenges efforts that seek to improve the quality of our nation’s health care, the delivery of culturally relevant care and the goals of reducing health disparities. While efforts to increase diversity in nursing have shown some promise, more must be done. The Institute of Medicine’s Report, The Future of Nursing, Leading Change, Advancing Health, speaks to the need to transform nursing education and increase efforts to improve diversity in nursing. In addition, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing also stresses the need for schools to adopt reform measures that promote workforce diversity. Educators who are ready to teach todays ethnically and racially diverse learners are needed. However, studies have revealed that not all educators believe they were adequately prepared to implement equity pedagogy or meet the learning needs of all students. To this end, The National League for Nursing urges greater emphasis on the teaching/pedagogy component of the nurse educator’s role. Continuing education programs should apprise faculty of the educational needs of minority nurses and broaden the practices used by faculty in educating culturally and racially diverse students. The need to prepare new faculty to meet the learning needs of all students should not be ignored. This session will use the principles of multicultural instruction (equity pedagogy, knowledge construction and content integration) to strengthen the nurse practitioner’s ability to teach in a pluralistic society. Multicultural instruction promotes the philosophical concept that all students should have an equal opportunity to learn. Educational equality exists in part when teachers possess the knowledge and skills to modify their instruction and help students construct knowledge that considers their cultural background. Improving the learning environments for all students could lead to greater cultural and racial diversity in nursing which should help end health care disparities.