1. Health Education in Merrimack Valley
Health Education in Merrimack Valley Mayor’s Health Task Force, April 25, “The Tapestry of Public Health in Lawrence”
Karen Devereaux Melillo, PhD, APRN, BC, FAANP
Professor and Chair,
Department of Nursing
School of Health and Environment
University of Massachusetts Lowell

2. UMLowell Health Degree Programs
Bachelor of Science in
Clinical Laboratory Science
Medical Technology
Clinical Sciences
Nutritional Science
Health Education
Community Health
Environmental Health
Nursing
Pre-licensure
RN-BS degree completion
Exercise Physiology

3. UMLowell Health Degree Programs
Master’s of Science in
Clinical Laboratory Sciences
Health Management and Policy
Health Informatics
Nursing
Adult Psychiatric and Mental Health
Family Health Nursing
Gerontological Nursing
Work Environment
Cleaner Production/Pollution Prevention
Epidemiology
Ergonomics/Safety
Occupational Hygiene
Work Environment Policy

4. UMLowell Health Degree Programs
Doctorates
Nursing – PhD
Focus on Health Promotion
Nursing - DNP
Approval for Fall 2009
Work Environment - ScD
Cleaner Production/Pollution Prevention
Epidemiology
Ergonomics/Safety
Occupational Hygiene
Work Environment Policy
Physical Therapy - DPT

5. Bring Diversity to Nursing
Massachusetts Department of Public Health Funded project, “Reducing Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities: Workforce Development,”
Karen Devereaux Melillo, PhD, APRN, BC - Principal Investigator
Dr. Jacqueline Dowling - Co-Principal Investigator
Drs. Lisa Abdallah, Mary Findeisen, Margaret Knight - Co-Investigators
Ramona Nunez, RN, BS, Minority Nurse Recruiter
Renee Michaud, Graduate Research Assistant
Lori Piacenza, Project Administrator
Kayla Isabelle, UML Art Design Student

6. Health Disparities and Health Professions
Of all Massachusetts students graduating from nursing programs (diploma, AD, BS), only 3.8% were of Hispanic background and 6.3% were from an Asian background
Of these individuals, only 0.8% of Hispanic and 5% of Asians obtained a baccalaureate degree
(MACN, 2004)

7. UMass Lowell Nursing
UML is culturally, socially, and academically diverse, with 21% of students coming from ethnic/racial minority groups
Nursing graduates from (n=134) were surveyed
Only 2% of individuals reported a Hispanic background
Only 2% reported an Asian background
When compared to the large Hispanic and Asian populations in the Lowell and Lawrence area, these numbers are clearly inadequate to meet existing workforce needs

8. UMass Lowell Nursing
The number of ethnically diverse nursing students must increase if the health care needs of the population are to be addressed effectively
Of the total 279 undergraduate nursing majors for Fall 2007, race/ethnicity data reveal
12 self-report as Asian/Pacific Island
15 self-report Hispanic
19 self-report Black (non-Hispanic)
(UML, Institutional Research, October 2007)

9. Health Disparities and Health Professions Education
Primary focus of BDN program is to RECRUIT by
Providing access for minority/disadvantaged students to the nursing profession through pre-entry and recruitment efforts
Reaching out to middle and high schools Lawrence & Lowell
Offering twice yearly the ‘Introduction to Nursing’ Part I and II, and ‘Nursing as a Career’ Part I and II after-school workshops
Offering Summer College Prep and Young Scholars workshops
Participating in Career Fairs – Lowell, Lawrence, NECC, MCC
Implementing job shadowing related to nursing as a career for middle and high schools and YMCA Teen Achiever and Junior Teen Achiever Program
Developing promotional material (posters, logo, brochures, website)

10. Partnerships UMass Lowell Nursing, in partnership with:
Graduate School of Education’s Summer College Prep Program,
Lawrence Middle and High Schools,
Lowell Middle and High Schools, and
Merrimack Valley/Lawrence YMCA Teen and Junior Teen Achievers Program
Goal: Recruit minority and economically disadvantaged students into Nursing at UMass Lowell

11. BDN Nursing Assessment Survey
Online Assessment Survey underway
Knowledge of Nursing as a Career Choice
Interest in Nursing as a Career Choice

12. Summer College Prep Program
Lawrence middle and high school students participate at UMass Lowell’s Graduate School of Education offering
Nursing workshops scheduled for 4 sessions during this program
Summer 2007, 90 participants in the Nursing workshops through the College Prep program

13. Lawrence and Lowell Middle and HS
Fall 2008, Spring 2009
Middle Schools – 4 week after-school “Nursing as a Career Choice” workshops, Part I and Part II
High Schools – 4 week after-school “Introduction to Nursing” workshops, Part I and Part II

14. BDN Outreach Activities
Open Houses
Middlesex Community College
Northern Essex Community College
Information Sessions RN-BS
Lahey Clinic
Career Fairs
Lowell High School
Lawrence High School

15. Goals and Future Plans for BDN Project
HRSA Nursing Workforce Diversity grant submitted; this additional funding would focus on RETENTION
Rigorous retention efforts that provide tailored educational experience and well-coordinated mentoring system
Scholarships and stipends to financially support qualified students to become professional nurses
Graduation of minority and disadvantaged nursing students who can provide needed health care for diverse populations

16. Retention in Nursing Program Activities
Guided by evidence-based educational models that demonstrate success in retaining minority/disadvantaged students
Personal needs include: financial support, laptop computers/software, and acquisition of time management and self-empowerment skills
Academic needs include: individual and small group peer tutoring, support services for professional nursing courses, creating innovative culturally appropriate teaching strategies via case study analysis, and offering a course that prepares students for the rigorous reading, test-taking, and clinical requirements expected for academic success
Cultural needs include: individualized learning experiences, culturally sensitive and competent nursing faculty, minority student support group counseling sessions, ethnic role models in clinical and community settings, and extracurricular social/cultural activities

17. Provide scholarships and stipends and needed support
Laptop computers and PDAs provided
Conduct rigorous quantitative and qualitative research to provide us with better understanding of the needs of minority/disadvantaged nursing students

18. Create a community of learning
Centered around minority/ disadvantaged students
Provide strong leadership
Faculty and university support
Peer to peer mentoring
Early intervention
Conducive learning environment

19. Questions?