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In an effort to improve cultural awareness and competency and showcase the hospital's diversity efforts, the Department of Nursing has recently formed the Children's Hospital Multicultural Nurses Group. Led by staff development specialist Eva Gómez, RN, MSN, this group of nurses regularly meets to discuss ways to enhance the health care services they provide to an increasingly diverse patient population. More than 50 enthusiastic nurses from various ethnic and cultural backgrounds have already joined the group.
"The meetings serve as an open forum to share concerns, opportunities and ideas on how we can promote culturally sensitive and appropriate health care for our patients and their families," says Gómez. "As multicultural nurses, we possess a unique perspective that can be helpful in understanding others' cultural beliefs, values and their unique challenges."
Through job shadowing and special events, the group also aims to support Children's diversity recruitment efforts by mentoring youth, college students, clinical assistants and other employees who have an interest in the nursing profession. "The face of Boston has changed, and we must be ready to address these changes," says Cece Waithe, RN, who is part of the group.
The Multicultural Nurses Group has hit the ground running with its diversity outreach efforts. On April 15, the group will host a special reception for Bunker Hill Community College students who belong to the Students Taking Action for Nursing Diversity (STAND) project. STAND provides a fast-track from high school to a nursing degree program for students from five Boston Public High Schools. The reception will follow with a panel discussion and a tour of the hospital.
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