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The National Coalition of Ethnic Minority Nurses Association (NCEMNA), composed of five ethnic minority nurses associations, advocates for equality and justice in nursing and health care for ethnic minority populations. “We have a mutuality of spirit and have carved out objectives of what we can do together to make a difference,” says Betty Smith Williams, RN, DrPH, FAAN, NCEMNA president. For more information, visit the websites of member groups: The Asian American/Pacific Islander Nurses Association, Inc. (AAPINA), www.aapina.org The National Alaska Native American Indian Nurses Association, Inc. (NANAINA), www.nanaina.com The National Association of Hispanic Nurses, Inc. (NAHN), www.thehispanicnurses.org The National Black Nurses Association, Inc. (NBNA), www.nbna.org The Philippine Nurses Association of America, Inc. (PNAA), www.pnaa03.org

Mentors in the Creating Research Careers in Nursing program guide the new cadre of researchers and help them define their own scholarly careers. This will help position them to respond to the need for new knowledge that will help resolve disparities. In the past, minorities were cautioned not to study their own groups — that they couldn’t be unbiased, says Villarruel. Minorities also received negative feedback when they chose nursing. Villarruel applauds the National Association of Hispanic Nurses for the positive career guidance she received, and she plans to pass this “yes you can” attitude on to new nurses with the help of NAHN and NCEMNA colleagues.

Through the program, NCEMNA is encouraging mentee Pamela Jones, RN, MPH, a doctoral student at the University of California, San Francisco, to pursue teaching and research.

“Research can answer so many questions, particularly in my interest area,” says Jones. Harris is helping her hone her research plan, which is aimed at impacting tobacco-related health disparities among African Americans.

Mentee Solomon-Duarte, a pediatric nurse practitioner student at Seton Hall University, South Orange, N.J., consults with Harris about choosing a doctoral program, obtaining grant funding, and planning research that will center around pediatric asthma and minorities.

“Research contributes to the dissemination of knowledge to patients and providers,” says Solomon-Duarte. The translation of her research into practice has special meaning for Solomon-Duarte — educating those at risk and preventing needless suffering and asthma-related deaths.

Besides Williams, Harris, and Villarruel, the NCEMNA: Nurse Scientist Stimulation Program grant leadership team includes project directors Luz Porter, RN, PhD, FAAN, professor, Florida International University; and Bette Keltner, RN, PhD, FAAN, dean and professor at Georgetown University. NCEMNA is currently creating and updating a database of ethnic minority nurse researchers and students to promote exchange of ideas and support.

“NCEMNA is growing the next generation of minority nurse research scientists,” says Williams. For more information, nurses should contact their minority nurse associations and log on to www.NCEMNA.org.

Lorraine Steefel, RN, MSN, CTN, is a senior staff writer for Nursing Spectrum.