Weaving a tapestry of academic success and cultural caring
Like threads in a vibrant tapestry, the nursing program in the Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing and Health Sciences at Florida International University (FIU) weaves core tenets throughout its academic and clinical preparation of new nurses. The result is a multifaceted, multicultural lens through which FIU's nursing program meets the university's mission to serve a diverse student population and prepare them for the challenges of today’s workforce.
“Given that Miami is such a confluence of cultures, diversity has been one of the threads of our program since its inception,” said Nola Holness, PhD, CNM, APRN, NP-C, CNE, chair of the Undergraduate Nursing Department at FIU.
“We have built upon that foundation by weaving threads throughout our curriculum — vertical and horizontal threads of cultural diversity, cultural humility, and cultural competence.”
Even the program handbook emphasizes the importance of cultural awareness in nursing education, pointing faculty and students toward the integration of knowledge, behavior, skills, and attitudes that result in high-quality healthcare and research involving people from a variety of cultures.
“Our awareness of diversity adds to the richness of our experiences as faculty and as students,” Dr. Holness said.
These experiences occur in parallel to academic achievements that contribute to FIU’s reputation for excellence in nursing education. The program’s impressive NCLEX pass rates are the result of dedicated and skilled faculty, a curriculum that prepares students for the realities of healthcare, strong and supportive clinical partnerships, and the integration of ATI solutions.
Developing a diverse faculty helps build a sense of belonging for students
FIU's nursing program reflects Miami's diverse population, Dr. Holness said. In the 2023-2024 academic year, 63% to 68% of prelicensure students are Hispanic, 17%-20% are Black or African American, 5%-6% are White or non-Hispanic, 4%-6% are Asian, and 2%-3% identify with two or more races.
The faculty at FIU mirrors this diversity, with 60% identifying as Hispanic, 21% as Black or African American, 16% as White or non-Hispanic, 2% as Asian, and 1% as other. Achieving this diverse faculty makeup has been a particular focus in recent years, with recruitment centered around cultural humility and the ability to enhance the student experience.
"Every faculty applicant gets the same questions,” said Victor Delgado, DNP, APRN, ANP-BC, NP-C, a Clinical Associate Professor who is on the Faculty Search and Screen Committee. “We explain that we are a culturally diverse university, and we ask about their experience with this type of environment. Our approach ensures that new faculty members are not only academically qualified but also ready to engage with the diverse cultural backgrounds of our students.”
To support new faculty members, FIU provides a formalized mentoring program that includes targeted resources for faculty who are transitioning from clinical roles to academia.
"We work to make sure every member of the faculty has the knowledge and the preparation for this new role," Dr. Holness said. “Each of them knows that they have to learn and be willing to understand, to ask, to grow — and to be available for the cultural experiences of others.”
Student-faculty engagement leads to improved communication and learning
The university's efforts to foster an inclusive and supportive environment expand beyond the classroom. The undergraduate nursing department establishes student-faculty liaisons and faculty leads to ensure that students feel heard and represented.
"We know that students and faculty typically communicate at a more granular level,” Dr. Holness said. “With these programs, students know there are other pathways they can take to communicate and feel they have a voice.”
FIU also provides student support systems like the Panther Success Network, an early intervention program that identifies and assists struggling students, Dr. Delgado said.
Clinical partnerships are essential for multiple reasons
Another important component of FIU’s nursing program is the broad network of clinical partnerships that provide formative experiential opportunities that enhance cultural understanding. These partnerships produce scholarships and guaranteed positions for students, further incentivizing their education and addressing the nursing workforce shortage, Dr. Holness said.
The wide geographic range of the program’s clinical partners adds another layer of value, Dr. Delgado said. “We go into multiple counties, and that enhances the richness of the opportunities we give our students,” he said. “The value is not just with the clinical partners themselves, but also the patients and the diversity of the employees.”
Dr. Holness and Dr. Delgado said that FIU’s clinical partners are a notable draw in terms of recruitment into the program.
“We partner with at least five of the larger hospital systems,” Dr. Holness said. “Students know this and that they will get valuable experience with us.”
And the beneficial recruitment effects of the clinical partnerships are not limited to student enrollments. Nurses who work in these systems often turn to FIU when they consider transitioning from the classroom to academia, Dr. Holness said.
Strategic implementation of ATI solutions has helped increase NCLEX scores
Another cornerstone of the undergraduate nursing program’s success is the strategic implementation of ATI solutions. The integration of ATI curriculum and learning resources, assessments, and live review courses into the curriculum has helped FIU achieve outstanding NCLEX pass rates.
"We have incorporated all things ATI, and we have seen some phenomenal successes," Dr. Holness said. “Nearly all students pass their ATI Proctored Exams on the first attempt and this preparation translated into a 2024 first-quarter NCLEX pass rate of 98%.”
This success continued in the second quarter of 2024, when 93.88% of the program’s graduates passed the NCLEX. These results exceeded Florida’s average pass rate (85.89%) and the national average pass rate (93.53%).
Dr. Holness and Dr. Delgado said ATI resources have been instrumental in helping students improve their critical thinking skills, test-taking abilities, and readiness for the NCLEX. The FIU nursing program utilizes ATI resources that focus on the following key areas:
- Integrated testing, remediation, and analytics (ATI solutions in this category include the Content Mastery Series®, Comprehensive Predictor®, quiz banks, and multiple types of assessments)
- Core curriculum (ATI solutions in this category include NurseLogic®, the Engage™️ Series, Pharmacology Made Easy, Dosage Calculation and Safe Medication Administration, and online student tutorials)
- Clinical preparation (ATI solutions in this category include Civility Mentor, Skills Modules, Real Life® Clinical Reasoning Scenarios, Nurse’s Touch® Suite, EHR Tutor, HealthAssess, Swift River Simulations)
- NCLEX prep (ATI solutions in this category include Capstone Comprehensive Content Review, Virtual-ATI®, Comprehensive Live NCLEX Review and Customized Live NCLEX Review, BoardVitals question banks, and tutorials with NCLEX item types)
- Faculty support (ATI solutions in this category include ATI Academy, ATI Champions Program, Custom Assessment Builder, and ATI Pulse®).
“Overall, ATI products have played a significant role in preparing our nursing students for success in their academic and professional pursuits,” Dr. Holness said. She added that the comprehensiveness of ATI resources, as well as their interactive features, are especially beneficial.
Diversity and education excellence go hand in hand
FIU's nursing program demonstrates that a dual commitment to diversity and excellence in education can have far-reaching benefits. By preparing students for success on the NCLEX and fostering an inclusive environment, FIU is not only shaping the future of nursing education but also ensuring that the next generation of nurses is ready to meet the needs of a diverse population. The university's strategic initiatives, from thoughtful faculty hiring to innovative student support systems, have created an environment in which both students and faculty thrive.
“Our vision at FIU Nursing is to advance nursing to the forefront of practice through academic excellence, innovative research, and visionary leadership with a focus on improving health for all,” Dr. Holness said. “This reflects our five core goals of leadership, knowledge, collaboration/community engagement, advocacy, and compassion.”
The FIU nursing program’s commitment to diversity, cultural competence, and empathy is evident in all aspects of the education experience. For other nursing programs seeking to cultivate these qualities, Dr. Holness and Dr. Delgado offer this advice: “Embrace different perspectives, foster a culture of inclusion, and above all, never underestimate the power of empathy in fostering success for faculty, staff, students, and the delivery of patient-centered care.”