Nebraska is establishing a state chapter of the National Association of Hispanic Nurses. Nurses, nursing students, and those who are not nurses, nor Hispanic/Latino/Latina, are welcome to join.
The chapter will meet on the fourth Wednesday of each month at 4:30 p.m. central time, in Room 4038 of the UNMC College of Nursing in Omaha. An 800-phone number will be established for those who cannot attend the meetings, but would like to participate by phone.
The ultimate goal of the association is to improve the health of the Hispanic/Latino/Latina community with a focus on increasing the number of Hispanic nurses in Nebraska. With the growth of the Hispanic/Latino population in Nebraska, the need for nurses is great.
From 1990 to 2000, the state’s Hispanic/Latino community grew 155 percent, yet there are very few Hispanic nurses, said Dani Eveloff, recruitment coordinator, UNMC College of Nursing.
“With growth comes more disparities and it is imperative that as a state university, we help to address these issues,” Eveloff said. “We need nurses that speak the language and understand the culture.”
Nurses can help address health disparities, said nursing student Luisa Rounds. “We can help break some of the barriers the Hispanic population has in understanding language and culture and building trust,” Rounds said. “We can empower them to understand what preventative care they need and the treatment regimen needed to manage their healthcare and the disparities particular to their ethnic background.”
Nursing student Rosa Weatherly also is involved in launching the chapter.
The Nebraska Board of Nursing, the Nebraska Center for Nursing and Metropolitan Community College are involved in the chapter, which is in the process of developing a Web site.
For more information, contact Dani Eveloff at (402) 559-5184, (800) 626-8431 Ext. 5184, or develoff@unmc.edu. For more information about the National Association of Hispanic Nurses, see http://www.thehispanicnurses.org.