Black women in nursing education completion programs: Issues affecting participation

The purpose of this study was to explain factors that encouraged and discouraged the participation of Black women in RN completion programs. A qualitative design and a Black feminist theoretical framework guided the study. Ten Black women were interviewed: 7 attended RN completion programs, and 3 were recent graduates. Factors that encouraged the participation of Black women can be grouped into two areas: intrapersonal and cultural factors. Factors that discouraged participation of the Black women in the study can be grouped into two areas: the experience of being the "other" and the culture of racism. The study concludes that Black women in RN completion programs are constantly aware of themselves as the "other" in the classroom as well as in practice and that individual and institutional racism is a barrier in RN completion programs.