Why is the program especially important for minority students?

Increasing the number of Family Nurse Practitioners (FNPs) with expertise in the health problems of America's underserved and vulnerable populations is crucial. Although North Carolina has recently experienced a dramatic increase in the number of primary care providers, the number of Family Nurse Practitioners who are themselves members of racial and ethnic minorities remains low. Persons who are members of racial and ethnic minorities, who often live in rural communities and inner cities, face a disproportionate share of America's health problems. They experience health disparities in most of the nation's major health indicators. Many attribute this burden to a lack of accessible and culturally competent health care. Others have found that members of racial and ethnic minority groups who have suffered a history of abuse and neglect by America's health care system are distrustful and reluctant to seek professional health care. They face many challenges, including the lack of accessible, affordable, and culturally sensitive health care. Nurses and physicians who are insensitve to their health problems, living conditions and cultures may not be able to provide acceptable health care.

It is important to have expert FNPs who are themselves members of racial and ethnic minority groups, although we recognize the importance of the COPC Option for any graduate student. FNPs who share the life experiences of racial and ethnic minority group members can help enormously to eliminate health disparities found between members of minority and majority groups. The COPC Option aims to increase the diversity of primary care providers such as FNPs by recruiting, retaining and graduating minority and disadvantaged students who are prepared to address health disparities at both individual and population levels.