An innovative Latino Initiative at Linfield College addresses the disparity between Oregon’s growing Hispanic population and the scarcity of Hispanic nurses.
Although Hispanics make up more than 10 percent of Oregon’s population, Hispanic registered nurses make up only 1 percent of the healthcare workforce. Linfield’s Ayudando Podemos project addresses the disparity, preparing Hispanic bachelor of science in nursing graduates to meet the needs of an increasingly diverse society.
“Many of our parents didn’t go to college,” said graduate Judy Ulibarri ’08, a Latina who now provides health care on the medical-surgical floor at the Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center. “When you’re talking about students who don’t come from that background it’s a huge leap. Nursing school is the most intense thing I’ve ever done, and I sometimes wondered if it was a bridge or a cliff. But the professors and staff were very encouraging and supportive. I really appreciate the experience they gave me.”
The Linfield College baccalaureate program at the Linfield–Good Samaritan School of Nursing was recently awarded one of three honorable mentions in the nation by the Excelencia in Education program. The award recognized Linfield’s Ayudando Podemos program, which has increased the number of Hispanic nurses in the workforce.
Linfield’s gains have been substantial, with Hispanic enrollment rising from 2.6 percent (nine students) in 2002–03 to 8.4 percent (27 students) last year.
The program, which is Spanish for “Helping Each Other, We Can Do It,” recruits Latino high school students from rural and urban high schools and colleges in Oregon. Orientation sessions are given to families, and students are provided with scholarships, support groups, intensive advising, bilingual support, and tutoring for courses and the registered nursing licensing exam.
Many program graduates, including Ulibarri, mentor other aspiring Latino students, providing help with networking and study skills.
“The program addresses the underrepresentation of nurses in Oregon’s workforce and provides a model for colleges across the country,” said Peggy Wros, associate dean for the nursing school. “It has been a success because of the support of the entire campus community, including faculty, students and staff. Students in the program are not just graduating, but thriving in leadership roles.”
“Linfield had a great support system,” said recent graduate Alejandrina Felipe ’09, who hopes to put her skills to work in Oregon. “Volunteers came and talked with us about how to deal with stress, how to put together a resume and how to network for a job, and I developed mentors that I keep in contact with to this day.”
Excelencia in Education is a national initiative to accelerate Latino student success in higher education. Only 7 percent of Latino young adults have associate degrees and 13 percent have a bachelor’s degree, compared to 30 percent of all other adults in the United States.
The national award recipients have “engaged a community of leaders who believe in the promise of America’s future and the abilities and talents of Latino students to carry us forward,” said Sarita Brown, president of Excelencia in Education.