Diversity as a value in undergraduate nursing education

Diversity in higher education is widespread, but its acceptance is another story. Students working toward degrees in the human service professions, su ch as nursing, need an appreciation of the diversity that exists in the Uni ted States today. The global economy, along with political and social unres t in many countries, have led to an American population with increasingly v aried religious, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds. Modern colleges and univ ersities reflect this trend; students from a variety of backgrounds bring t o the classroom many different ideas and ideals. This article describes how diversity has been thread as a central concept throughout the curriculum i n an associate degree in nursing program in a regional university in South Carolina, where people of color represent approximately one third of the po pulation (1). Specific course objectives and assessments have been introduc ed into each level of the nursing program. As part of the preparation for r eaccreditation by the National League for Nursing Accreditation Commission (NLNAC), faculty in the ADN program decided to remodel the curriculum based on the university's mission and key documents related to nursing practice.