RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION

Grant addresses minority nurse shortage

Temple University's College of Health Professions, Philadelphia, Pa., recently obtained a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to attract minority students to nursing. The funds are earmarked to offer support for students in the north Philadelphia area at the beginning of their nursing education. The Developing Diverse Diamonds Project (DDDP) aims to help students whose financial, academic, and personal circumstances limit their educational opportunities.

The 15 high-school juniors who'll take part in the project will participate in culturally sensitive activities to supplement their current academic curriculum. They'll also attend weekly professional development sessions in which they'll gain insight on managing stress, test-taking skills, and preparing for the culturally diverse environment they'll enter after graduation. Another aspect of the program invites DDDP students and nursing volunteers to teach fifth- and sixth-graders about nursing, four times per year.

Administrators expect all of the participants to graduate in two years and 90% of them to pass the NCLEX-RN exam on their first try. For more information, call 215-707-1732.

JOINT COMMISSION NEWS

JCAHO increases survey fees

The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) announced it will raise fees across all JCAHO accreditation programs to further invest in the new accreditation process introduced in 2004.

On average, hospitals will pay $2,700 more, an 11.7% increase over last year's average. Fees are estimated to rise by $3,000 for networks, $300 for critical access hospitals, $815 for long-term care, and $1,065 for behavioral healthcare facilities. For more information, call the JCAHO pricing unit at 630-792-5115.

Clarification

In "Magnet Conference attracts hundreds of nurse leaders" (December 2004), the correct number of Magnet facilities is 134, not 150. Catherine Broom's credentials are MN, ARNP, APRN, BC, MN.