Using potential social contributions in the selection procedures for African-American-nursing applications in an urban community college: A case study approach

The purpose of this study was to determine if African-American nurses who are educated at a community college remain in their respective communities. Since one focus of healthcare reform is health maintenance and/or prevention of health problems, and some African-American clients do not seek preventive care and/or practice health maintenance, the registered nurse may be the best source for health care in the African-American community. The prospect that African-American nurses stay in the community after graduation may warrant consideration in the selective admission processes of nursing programs. A case study of three urban Community Colleges was utilized. The researcher interviewed the department chairperson at each of the nursing programs for the purpose of identifying the geographic boundaries of the college\u27s community, admission criteria, and the history of the nursing program. Students in three cohort groups (1985, 1990, and 1995) from each institution were surveyed for their work history and community participation. Data provided by survey respondents was analyzed utilizing conditional logit models. The results indicate that admission criteria could be expanded to include the likelihood of working in the college\u27s service area. Said criteria could increase the number of African-American nursing graduates thereby improving health care services in minority communities. In short, it could capture an important variable of the social contributions of these community college students