Delivering on the Expectation for Diverse Caregivers

As nursing professional development specialist for Cleveland Clinic’s ASPIRE Nurse Scholar Program, Sol Sanchez, BSN, RN, knows the importance of attracting a diverse population of nurses to the profession. The 12-week enrichment program is open to high school juniors in northeast Ohio interested in pursuing a career in nursing, many of whom are underserved students who would not otherwise have access to a robust pipeline program. “It’s an amazing opportunity to reach young people who perhaps in other instances would not have gotten this opportunity,” says Sanchez.

The ASPIRE program is just one of many ways that Cleveland Clinic aims to diversify its nursing workforce. “We have a fantastically committed team in nurse recruitment who understand that diversity is our strength and are very intentional in their recruiting efforts,” says Diana Gueits-Rivera, MBA, director of diversity and inclusion at Cleveland Clinic. Over the past several years, the healthcare organization has built strong relationships with national and local minority nurse organizations and leaned on members of its Employee Resource Groups and Diversity Councils as brand ambassadors for fulfilling nursing careers at Cleveland Clinic.

One nurse on the frontline making a difference

Perhaps the best indicator of an organization’s commitment to diversity are the efforts by its individual employees to embrace inclusivity. If so, Sanchez is a shining example for Cleveland Clinic. After working as a social worker, Sanchez became a nurse in 2009. “Believe it or not, nursing is not far removed from social work,” she says. “It’s just a different way of helping people in vulnerable positions.”

Since becoming a nurse, Sanchez has sought out ways to advocate for Hispanic/Latinx nurses and communities in northeast Ohio. In particular, she’s been involved in two organizations: the local chapter of the National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN) and SALUD, Cleveland Clinic’s Hispanic/Latinx Employee Resource Group.

Gueits-Rivera was instrumental in founding the northeast Ohio chapter of NAHN in 2014. “I felt strongly that there needed to be a platform for Hispanic nurses in northeast Ohio to connect with each other, advance their agenda for professional development and career mobility, as well as leverage their skills to address health literacy and health disparities in the Latino community,” she says.

Sanchez has been an active member from the start, recently serving as treasurer of the chapter. Through NAHN, she has volunteered at local health fairs and gone to middle schools to talk to students about nursing. “Culturally-driven nursing associations foster understanding around the differences particular to a culture,” says Sanchez. “It’s nice to be around others who recognize and understand those differences.”

Among the employees that SALUD represents are 410 nurses in the Cleveland Clinic healthcare system who self-identify as Hispanic/Latinx. “Cleveland Clinic is a huge organization, and it can be easy to feel like you are on an island,” says Sanchez. “SALUD makes caregivers feel like they are not alone: There are people doing the same work as you who understand all the ins and outs of what you go through as a Hispanic/Latinx professional.”

As a member of SALUD, Sanchez has participated in a holiday event with the Julia De Burgos Cultural Arts Center, a family-oriented center that serves Latino youth and their families through programs and activities. She also is working alongside Esperanza, an organization that strives to improve the academic achievement of Hispanics in greater Cleveland, to encourage more Hispanic and Latinx students to attend nursing school.

In addition, Sanchez has volunteered at a minority men’s health fair. “It’s been so wonderful to help patients who wouldn’t otherwise have that access to care and, truthfully, who are scared in this environment to go to a doctor,” she says. “We can help with doctors and providers who understand their journey.”

A commitment by individuals – and the healthcare organization

Connecting with patients in the Hispanic/Latinx community is paramount to Sanchez. “Research has shown that a diverse nursing workforce impacts the patient experience,” she says. “Patients need to feel like they can share those things about their culture and how they take care of themselves that may perhaps seem quirky to others.”

That sentiment is shared throughout Cleveland Clinic. “A diverse nursing workforce is critical to us being able to authentically connect with a patient population that is so diverse,” says Gueits-Rivera. “Those patients will have the expectation that we meet their unique healthcare needs and challenges with compassion, clinical skill and culture competence. We plan to deliver on that expectation.”