AFFIRMING CULTURAL-DIVERSITY - A PATHWAYS MODEL FOR NURSING FACULTY

This article presents a model for affirming the diversity of backgroun ds, learning styles, and career aspirations for students in baccalaure ate and graduate nursing education. The theoretical model, known as Pa thways, is developed with a travel analogy and begins by acknowledging the diversity of educational preparation and socialization experience d by students from various cultural, economic, and ethnic backgrounds. Learning styles and needs of these students are addressed through ass essment and interventions that are individualized and serve as maps an d guides through the professional learning sequence and into future pr ofessional careers. The model is useful for planning and evaluating ex panded services for a broad spectrum of students. The focus of this ar ticle is on the preparation of faculty as mentors for students with di sadvantaged backgrounds.