WHAT:
Only 3 percent of the nation’s registered nurses are Hispanic. Even fewer ― 2.3 percent ― are nursing school faculty members. The School of Nursing at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio is playing a leading role in changing these statistics by forming and hosting the first board meeting of the National Latino Nurses Faculty Association.
WHY:
Latinos are one of the fastest-growing minority groups in the United States and nurses are the largest group of health care providers. In order to provide culturally appropriate care for Hispanic patients, more nurses are needed who understand the Latino culture, speak Spanish and are familiar with the health care needs of the Hispanic community.
The new national association will encourage and support junior Latino nursing faculty members so that they can become role models and leaders for the next generation of Hispanic nursing students.
WHEN:
10-10:30 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 16.
WHERE:
Room 1.102 in the School of Nursing at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Dr. Enter the gate near the intersection of Floyd Curl and Wurzbach Road. The gate guard will give you instructions on where to park.
WHO:
Norma Martinez Rogers, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, professor in the School of Nursing, is the founding president of the NLNFA. Formerly president of the National Association of Hispanic Nurses, Dr. Martinez Rogers has many years’ experience with mentoring programs, as well as national advocacy experience on the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission, which advises Congress on health care issues involving underserved children and adults.
Dr. Martinez Rogers and other board members from throughout Texas as well as California, Colorado and Massachusetts will be available to discuss:
• The need for culturally competent health care for the Hispanic community,
• The nursing shortage,
• The need to attract more Hispanics into the nursing profession, and
• How having more Hispanic faculty nurses is a key to accomplishing these goals.
Several prospective members of the NLNFA will be on hand to discuss how the association could help develop their careers as nursing faculty members.
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, one of the country’s leading health sciences universities, ranks in the top 13 percent of academic institutions receiving National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding. The university’s schools of medicine, nursing, dentistry, health professions and graduate biomedical sciences have produced more than 31,000 graduates. The $787.7 million operating budget supports eight campuses in San Antonio, Laredo, Harlingen and Edinburg. For more information on the many ways “We make lives better®,” visit www.uthscsa.edu.