Driving Diversity in Nursing

Mass General Brigham and UMass Boston’s Manning College of Nursing and Health Sciences (MCNHS) are partnering to expand the college’s Clinical Leadership Collaborative for Diversity in Nursing program, an initiative they launched together in 2008 to support diversity, practice-preparedness, and behavioral health competency.

Since 2008, the program has provided hands-on hospital experience and career opportunities to 135 graduate and undergraduate students at MCNHS, which offers the only four-year public programs in nursing and exercise and health sciences in the Greater Boston area. Participating students achieved a 100 percent certification rate and a 92 percent placement rate at Mass General Brigham hospitals. The new $20 million investment $10 million from Mass General Brigham and $10 million from UMass Boston—will support 400 additional students over five years. The funding will also underwrite the creation of a behavioral health equity certificate for program participants.

“Nurses are fundamental to the delivery of high-quality, compassionate health care to our patients,” said Dr. Anne Klibanski, president and CEO of Mass General Brigham. “There is an immense need to increase the pipeline of trained nurses, with a concerted focus on increasing diversity among our trainees. This initiative is a powerful example of how collaboration can drive change to overcome monumental challenges in a meaningful way.”