On International Nurses Day today, Hispanic Star and NurseHeroes.org have launched a scholarship programme ‘Hispanic Star Nurse Heroes’, to tackle the shortage of nurses in the US.
This programme aims to address the shortage of nurses, while creating opportunities for Latinas in the healthcare industry; who are actually underrepresented in the nursing profession. At least one million nurses are needed in the US alone to avoid further shortages.
“There is an accelerating shortage of nurses around the world,” noted Alex Charlton, Chairman and CEO of Carlyle Global Partners, who launched NurseHeroes.org a year ago. “Within three years we will have about one million fewer nurses than we require in the United States. We must act now”.
HISPANICS UNDERREPRESENTED IN NURSING
Employment opportunities for nurses are projected to grow faster than all other occupations through 2026. However, Hispanic nurses are underrepresented in this occupation. Currently, Hispanic nurses only account for 4.6% of nurses in the nation. “Latinas make excellent nurses; yet the pathway to a career in nursing can be challenging as many Latinas continue to work while going to school. A scholarship would really lessen the financial burden so Latinas could focus academically on their career,” pointed out Dr Adrianna Nava, President of the National Association of Hispanic Nurses; who is also a nurse.
The Hispanic Star Nurse Heroes Scholarship programme is dedicated to fighting the shortage of nurses; while also creating opportunities for Latinas and their families. A $150,000 donation will fund the tuition of 20 future nurses, providing each scholarship awardee with $7,500 to cover tuition.
SCHOLARSHIP GOALS
The goal is to cover the education costs for 1,000 Latinas studying to become nurses; and raise $7.5 million from partners to cover their tuition expenses. Around 92% of current nurses are women; and even though the organisers anticipate the majority of scholarship grantees to be women, the programme is open to all Hispanics.
Commenting on the programme, Claudia Romo Edelman, Founder of We Are All Human Foundation and Hispanic Star, stated: “Latinas are the multiplier effect, they are more likely to live in multigenerational homes; so when a Latina rises, she supports both her parents and their children, creating the opportunity for long-lasting upward mobility.”
For more information on about Hispanic Star Nurse Heroes, click here. Edelman will also be speaking tomorrow at the Latina & Black Women Symposium, on the State of Latinas and Black women in the USA; and the challenges they face tomorrow with Mandy Price, Co-founder and CEO of Kanarys. Click here for more information.
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