Diversity: an answer to the nursing shortage.

Profound changes are occurring in nursing and the health care world. Two of the changes that are the most profound are the nursing shortage and the changing image of nursing. Although we must retain our current nursing workforce, we also must work diligently to recruit young men and women of diversity into our profession. Faculty will have to respond to the academic needs of the diverse students and will have to develop new and creative nontraditional teaching strategies to meet the students' needs. It is within the shared integrity of learning that diversity is recognized and acknowledged by educators and students and that valuable learning takes place. It will only be with improvements in recruitment and education that nursing will incorporate the much-needed diverse nurses into our profession to help meet the nursing shortage and to facilitate improvements in the changing image of nursing.

Health protecting and health promoting behaviors of African Americans living in Appalachia.

The importance of the influence of health protecting and health promoting behaviors on the health of Appalachian African Americans has not been widely published. Review of the literature revealed a paucity of research data describing these behaviors. Therefore, the purpose of this descriptive study was to describe health protecting and health promoting behaviors of Appalachian African Americans. Pender's (1996) health promotion conceptual framework was used as the organizing framework for this study. Data were collected through structured interviews with 204 Appalachian African Americans representing two states and six counties in Appalachia. Quantitative research methodology was used to describe health protecting and health promoting behaviors. Data analysis revealed that these participants actively engaged in health protecting and health promoting behaviors. Morbidity data, mortality data, and family history of diseases were consistent with those reported nationally. Findings from this study support the need for a long-range research study of Appalachian African Americans.

The use of convocation for exploring multiculturalism.

The development of creative persons in the field of nursing has been identified as a major task for nurse leaders (1). A critical component in the development of creative nurses is the development of persons who are culturally sensitive, who recognize and respect cultural diversity (2). [symbol: see text] Nurses need a broad understanding of the impact of society, politics, and culture on the practice of professional nursing (3). We have been challenged to discover ways to explore diverse aspects of humanity that are not culturally bound (4). Through exposure to multiculturalism, we are helped to become sensitive to our own cultural biases and behaviors as well as to the lived experiences of those we serve.

A glance at Appalachia.

Appalachia is usually written about in romantic terms; rarely are the citizens of Appalachia portrayed as contributors to society. Appalachia is made up of many cultures--African American, European American, Melungeon, Native American and others. Appalachian cultures are not locked in a fixed state; one needs only to review the history of Appalachia to understand this concept (Tice & Billings, 1991). Appalachian cultures are fluid and ever-changing. The cultures are expressed in literature, oral histories, music and regional history.

Interviewing as a teaching strategy for promoting cultural sensitivity.

Interviewing was found to be an excellent teaching strategy in the promotion of cultural sensitivity in the course described in this article. Students were active learners in the acquisition of knowledge and critical thinkers in the analysis of the knowledge. Leininger (1991) emphasized the need for cultural sensitivity and cultural specific care in assisting supporting, facilitating, and/or enabling "individuals or groups to maintain or regain their well being (or health) in culturally meaningful and beneficial ways, or to help people face handicaps or death" (p.47). The need for further research on teaching strategies for promoting cultural sensitivity and on interviewing as a teaching strategy was identified.

Identifying health-seeking behaviors: a study of adolescents.

While it is known that health-seeking behaviors are influenced by information-seeking behaviors, reported research on adolescents' information-seeking behaviors is minimal. Available definitive information primarily addresses ways in which peers, parents, and health professionals are used as sources of information concerning sexuality. Research is now needed on how adolescents use the media and other sources of health information to effect changes in their lives. The present study sought to determine how adolescents' health-seeking behaviors, which include self-management and information-seeking behaviors, differ according to age, race, socioeconomic status, gender, and religion. The study was based on two assumptions: Self-management and information-seeking behaviors are fundamental to adolescents' health-seeking behaviors, and subjects answer self-management and information-seeking questions in terms of past behaviors and their behavioral intent. Important findings that emerged from this investigation include confirmation of gender as a differentiating variable for the performance of information-seeking behavior and positive health behaviors among black adolescents. Further, subjects reported an overall positive composite of health-seeking behaviors.