African American nurses describe pre-licensure education experiences: A qualitative study.

Greater diversity in the healthcare workforce enhances cross-cultural communication, diminishes bias and stereotyping, thereby improving health outcomes for African Americans. Diversifying the nursing profession has been a persistent challenge and the experiences of African American nursing students in not yet well understood. The aims of this study were to describe the experiences of pre-licensure nursing school, and the meaning of those experiences, retrospectively for African American nurses. The sample for this qualitative descriptive study included 14 African American nurses who reflected on their nursing school experiences. A salient theme of standing out emerged from the data with subthemes of being watched and being ignored. Laying low and being noticed emerged as success strategies for nursing school. African American student experiences are complex and at times appear dichotomous. Improving African American nursing student success necessitates the creation of a more hospitable learning environment to mitigate the effects of standing out.