An evaluation of the recruitment of black and minority ethnic students to pre-registration nursing

This paper reviews the literature on the recruitment of minority ethnic students to pre-registration nursing courses and goes on to examine the evidence of ethnic minority under-recruitment and possible explanations for it, exploring the relationship between stated institutional policy on equality of opportunity, student choice of institution, and new data on the way the selection process operates in nursing course admissions.

While the perception of the institutions' policy towards minority ethnic students may affect the numbers applying, recent research shows that 6.7% of applicants were from minority ethnic groups (who make up 6% of the general population), but that only 3% went on to become students, a fact that could not be explained fully on the grounds of entry qualification or choice of nursing specialty at the time of application.

New data on recruitment of minority ethnic students to pre-registration nursing courses at Leicestershire in 1998/99 indicate that black and other minority ethnic students apply in large numbers but that their numbers diminish as they reach the shortlisting stage and reduce still further when they are offered a place on the course, with minority ethnic students remaining under-represented. The challenge of the situation requires universities to implement equality of opportunity policy in the selection process, undertake ethnic monitoring, train all staff involved with students' admission, and set targets on diversity.