Bridging the Gap: How NHHA is Supporting a Diverse and Inclusive Nursing Workforce
The COVID-19 pandemic altered many aspects of life around the world, including the way people work, socialize, and how many countries operate. As essential workers, the nursing workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic faced one of the most challenging experiences in their recent history.
Sonia Valdez, Chief Nursing Officer at NHHA, remembers what it was like during the peak of COVID-19. Nurses, just like everyone else, were panicked and afraid. Senior nurses took the global pandemic as a sign to retire early, while nursing students in the pipeline were unable to graduate due to unfulfilled clinical hours. Due to this unreplenished workforce, nurses struggled with multiple shifts and sometimes worked 7 days a week, all while trying to support their burned out and tired colleagues.
As someone who serves as a faculty member and nursing community mentor, Sonia questioned why there was a hold on the nursing student pipeline.
“Wait a minute, why are we holding on to the students? This is an ideal way to teach students infection control and how to manage a crisis.”
Two CNA Students, one is taking the other’s blood pressure.
Come fall of 2020, acute care and skilled nursing facilities were ready to accept students again, but a new problem arose: faculty members were hesitant to come in to teach students in a clinical setting. This led to a continuous strain on faculty nurses, who had to take on extra shifts to make up for the shortage. The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the nursing workforce are why NHHA and Sonia are working to build an adequate supply of nurses and create a safe and inclusive workspace for them.
To address building an adequate workforce, Sonia emphasized that the world of nursing is life changing and flexible.
“In the wonderful world of nursing, there are so many doors that will open up the minute you say ‘I want to become a nurse’. You can be at a desk doing research or telehealth, community public health nurse, mentoring and teaching students, and at the bedside. You may not know what type of nurse you want to specialize in, but keep your eyes open because the minute you start a nursing program and participate in the clinical rotations, you will have the ability to learn about the different specialty areas.”
Sonia with students
Sonia with Dr.Jean Watson, an American Nurse theorist
To ensure nurses practice diversity, equity, and inclusion in treating their patients as well as in a workplace setting, Sonia wants to spearhead curriculum changes. For practicing nurses, Sonia wants to include cultural competency and DEI trainings in a nurse’s annual competency skills assessment. This is a time for nurses to make improvements, whether that is learning how to use a new piece of technology or a reminder on how to deal with a diverse spectrum of patients.
Strengthening the presence of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the nursing workforce will hopefully also increase the amount of community and public health nurses. A lot of the community is in crisis and needs support from healthcare professionals. Preventative community care and outreach is a key belief NHHA holds in preventing healthcare crises.
