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 (a) are welcome to join.
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 Hispanic/Latino community in Nebraska grew 155 percent, but there are very few Hispanic nurses, said Dani Eveloff, recruitment coordinator, University of Nebraska Medical Center 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.”
Nursing student, Luisa Rounds, said nurses can help address health disparities.
“As a nurse we can help break some of the barriers the Hispanic population has such as in understanding their language, their 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 disparities that are particular for their ethnic background.”
An 800 phone number will be established for those who cannot attend the meetings but would like to participate by phone.
For more information, contact Dani Eveloff, (402) 559-5184, (800) 626-8431, extension 95184 or develoff@unmc.edu. For more information about the National Association of Hispanic Nurses, see http://www.thehispanicnurses.org.