Co-designing a Diverse Nursing Workforce Pipeline

How might we build a pathway to nursing that starts at the community level?

Rosalind Franklin’s three-phase nursing pathway has as its goal to improve the diversity of the nursing workforce (a known factor in equitable healthcare delivery) and to improve the economic status and opportunities for underserved youth in Lake County’s high hardship index communities who are interested in nursing careers. While Phase II (undergraduate) and Phase III (graduate) of the nursing pathway were well underway, this project targeted Phase I (high school) for development.

An 8-week design sprint was conducted by a multi-site, multidisciplinary team of medical and graduate design students and faculty leads.

We worked with 54 high school students, parents, guidance counselors and graduate students from Lake County communities using co-design workshops as the engagement strategy. Sessions generated

1) a shared narrative of the lived experience of high school students and families, especially family dynamics of first-generation immigrants;

2) a feasible and desirable program experience for families seeking to guide students into higher education;

3) an integrated program model for Phase I of the nursing pathway, with community-informed program elements and design principles.

Sessions generated a community-informed, multi-level program pathway that provides four kinds of wrap-around supports to promote the success of high school students:

1. Help students build dreams

• Help them understand health profession opportunities

• Clarify the vision + value proposition of nursing

2. Customize program logistics so students can participate

• Design class timing + travel to allow maximal inclusion

• Address financial considerations (many high-schoolers must work)

• Improve pathway awareness at the community level