Ethnic Minorities and Nursing - Equality at last?

Page 2 of 3

So what tips should nurses from ethnic minorities follow if they are seeking to enter or climb the ladder of the nursing profession?

• Entering the profession is quite a different matter from making substantial progress. Most Trusts have well-developed equality of opportunity policies, monitor their intakes carefully and many, especially in the South-East of England, have implemented initiatives specifically designed to encourage ethnic minority applicants and returners.

   

• Making progress beyond junior grades requires a different approach. It's important to ensure you have the right qualifications and experience for your chosen path, and to be clear about the direction you want your career to follow. Many nurses, even those who have ended up in senior management roles, confess that they have not planned their career early enough, nor kept an eye on the kind of clinical experience they needed to acquire to make progress.

   

• Although time may be short and family commitments may get in the way, it's important to carry on learning, to read professional journals and to stay in touch with developments within your respective hospital, practice or community setting. Although resources may be short, this is rarely an excuse to stay behind the curve.