Angel Dominguez
Staff Writer
Dominican’s focus on community-based learning as well as a continuous push for diversity and inclusion has assisted student nurses during a pandemic-led nurse shortage.
Dr. Tamara Bland, interim dean of the Borra College of Health Sciences in the Elizabeth T. MacNeil School of Nursing, describes a shortage of nurses as an ongoing dilemma, she attributes this to the frustration of nurses during the pandemic that led to many retirements from the industry.
Bland explained the complexity of the nursing shortage dilemma.
“There’s a nursing shortage but also a workforce diversity shortage. So while there’s a shortage of nurses in the profession, we have this huge disparity of not having nurses of color,” said Bland.
Dominican’s nursing students are diverse, and that’s what institutions seek. Bland admires the diversity at Dominican, she sees this diversity translating into the nursing program and is eager for students to utilize their relatability in the field.
“What I like about Dominican is that we do have the diverse student population from different cultures, religion, social economic status that can relate to patients in different situations in different hospitals,” Bland said.
She attributes the increase in internships at Dominican to the pandemic, which opened the door for opportunities in the school of nursing. “Hospitals have found that the more internships or externships they offer that’s them getting in front of students so that they know there’s an opportunity at their institution once they graduate. So that has actually helped, there are more and more internships and externships that are available for students.”
These internships and experiences have served graduate students as well with some students having job offers lined up after graduation.
Maureen Emlund, director of the Clinical SimAngelulation Education Center, recognized the increase of jobs for nurses after graduation.
“The last graduating class were telling me they already had jobs lined up, that was the first time I’ve heard that in a long time, so I see there’s a lot more opportunities for students,” said Emlund.
Bland believes the students at the school of nursing have been blessed with a great renewal of opportunities that blends Dominican’s community-based learning with the push for a more diverse and inclusive community.
