NCEMNA Receives Major Federal Grant to Develop Minority Nurse Scientists

Because America urgently needs more minority nurse researchers who can investigate the causes of racial and ethnic health disparities and test preventive interventions, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded a $2.4 million grant to the National Coalition of Ethnic Minority Nurse Associations (NCEMNA) to help increase the number of nurses of color prepared to pursue careers as nurse scientists. The grant is funded by NIH’s National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS).

NCEMNA is a non-profit professional organization of minority nursing associations incorporated in 1998 to provide a unified voice for the nation’s racial/ethnic minority nursing professionals and to advocate for equity in health care for minority populations. Its five members are: the Asian American/Pacific Islander Nurses Association (AAPINA), the National Alaska Native American Indian Nurses Association (NANAINA), the National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN), the National Black Nurses Association (NBNA) and the Philippine Nurses Association of America (PNAA).

NCEMNA will use the federal grant to launch a five-year program focusing on (1) creating a network of minority nurse researchers, (2) developing mechanisms to support minority nurse researchers at all career levels and (3) encouraging minority nursing students to consider nursing research as a career path. Several strategies will be utilized to achieve these goals, such as the creation of a national database of minority nurse researchers and students to help promote communication and exchange of ideas among current and potential NCEMNA researchers.

The funding will also enable the coalition to launch several initiatives aimed at developing the next generation of minority nurse scientists. Nursing students of color interested in research careers will be able to take part in mentoring sessions, attend scientific symposia and NCEMNA’s annual national conferences, and interact with leading nurse scientists from across the nation. For more information about this landmark initiative, visit www.ncemna.org.