Summer nursing symposium: an immersive educational program inspiring underrepresented minorities for college and a career in nursing

Introduction:Though the National Advisory Council on Nurse Education and Practice has named underrepresented minorities (URM) as key demographics in addressing the nursing shortage, this group faces significant barriers to entry into nursing practice. In the academic year 2023–2024, URM students represented nearly 46.7% of students enrolled in entry-level baccalaureate nursing programs. Although this represents an increase in URM nursing presence, more work is needed to mirror the demographics of the U.S. patient population. Connecting URM communities with local academic institutions allows a clear path to the nursing profession. Methods: An educational program tailored to the URM student was designed to address URM barriers in access to college and offered networking with local communities and hospitals. Results: Results are suggestive of definite knowledge acquisition given a robust statistical significance in nearly all categories measured; students found the topics helpful in both preparing for college and increasing their interest in the nursing profession. Conclusion: A comprehensive educational program designed to attract high school students from URM/disadvantaged backgrounds could assist in promoting successful academic outcomes. Future studies may consider a larger sample size and multi-university settings.