(PRWEB) August 20, 2004 -- The National Coalition of Ethnic Minority Nurse Associations (NCEMNA) was awarded a significant grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The $2.4 million grant is for a five- year program to increase the number of nurse scientists reflecting the nation?s diversity. The unique project, funded by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), is titled "NCEMNA: Nurse Scientist Stimulation Program?. It is focused upon meeting the great need to engage and support the next generation of nurse scientists from ethnic/racial minority populations.
NCEMNA proposes to increase the number of ethnic minority nurse researchers by addressing three specific aims: 1) to create a network of ethnic minority nurse researchers. 2) to develop mechanisms to support ethnic minority researchers at all career levels; 3) to engage ethnic minority students to consider nursing research as a career trajectory. These goals will be achieved through several vehicles. A data- base of ethnic minority nurse researchers and students will be created which will be used to promote communication, exchange of ideas, and support for programs of research among NCEMNA researchers and potential researchers. Aspiring students will take part in mentoring development sessions, attend scientific symposia by leading scientists, interact with leading nurse scientists from all over the United States and participate in the NCEMNA National Conferences. Funding will enable student support for these and other career development activities.
Headquartered in Culver City, California, the grant leadership team is comprised of nurses from each of the ethnic nurse associations. NCEMNA president, Dr. Betty Smith Williams, Professor Emerita CSULB, NBNA and principal investigator, states ? a great strength of this project is, the proven commitment, that each national ethnic minority nurse association has, to the attainment of excellence in nursing practice for their communities.? Project directors are Dr. Lorna Harris, Professor, NC A&T University, NBNA; Dr. Antonia Villarruel, Associate Professor, University of Michigan, NAHN; Dr. Luz Porter, Professor, Florida International University, AAIPNA, PNAA; and Dr. Bette Keltner, Dean and Professor. Georgetown University, NANAINA.
NCEMNA members are five national ethnic minority nurse associations: the Asian American/Pacific Islander Nurses Association, Inc. (AAPINA), the National Alaska Native American Indian Nurses Association, Inc. (NANAINA), the National Association of Hispanic Nurses, Inc. (NAHN), the National Black Nurses Association, Inc., (NBNA), and the Philippine Nurses Association of America, Inc., (PNAA).
Incorporated in 1998, NCEMNA is a tax-Exempt, 501 (c) (3) non-profit professional organization that advocates for the equity and justice in nursing and health care for ethnic minorities. The Coalition gives voice to over to three hundred thousand ethnic minority nurses and to the actual health experiences of a constituent population that is marginalized from the mainstream health delivery systems.