In an effort to bridge Missouri’s nursing shortage and champion health equity, Ponce Health Sciences University-St. Louis is launching a Bachelor of Science in Nursing program aimed at expanding access for students from underserved and underrepresented communities.
With its first cohort of 24 students set to begin in February, the program brings affordable, high-quality nursing education to one of the most overlooked healthcare education markets in the Midwest.
“We want to be the school to help those dreams come true,” said Katie Jett, dean of the School of Nursing. “Ponce has a long history of opening doors for people of all backgrounds.”
As Missouri grapples with a 15.6% statewide nursing vacancy rate, the new program is more than an academic expansion — it’s a lifeline for communities historically left behind in both education and healthcare access.
The PHSU-St. Louis three-year BSN program admits students directly from high school, allowing them to begin nursing coursework immediately and enter the workforce sooner. The in-person program will prepare students for the demands of modern healthcare, emphasizing clinical judgment, technical skills and patient-centered care.
Students are supported by faculty academic coaches who provide early intervention, mentorship and personalized guidance throughout their academic journey.
“The nursing workforce still falls short of reflecting the racial and ethnic diversity of the U.S. population — a persistent gap that continues to challenge efforts toward equity in healthcare”
“Our goal is to make healthcare education a reality for those who’ve dreamed of it but lacked the means or support to pursue it,” said Jett. “At PHSU, we are committed to equipping students with the opportunity to succeed in nursing.”
Data from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing show that minority enrollment and graduation in baccalaureate nursing programs have steadily increased since 2018. Still, the nursing workforce falls short of reflecting the nation’s racial and ethnic diversity — a persistent gap that hampers progress toward equity in healthcare.
University President Dr. Gino Natalicchio wants the health science school to reflect the evolving needs of the communities the school serves, “expanding opportunities, reducing disparities and preparing the next generation of nurses for a meaningful impact,” he said in a statement.
This summer, the campus hosted an internship program for students from diverse backgrounds, teaching them that their goals are within reach, and their futures have a place in healthcare. “That comes with programs that are intentionally designed to support the students,” Jett said.
For starters, the GPA requirements for the nursing program aren’t as high as those for other medical schools. For many students, the real challenges aren’t academic. Some are juggling responsibilities at home, like caring for younger siblings or working after school to help support their families, Jett said.
“We evaluate applicants beyond their GPA,” she said. “These kids want the same thing. They just don’t have the accessibility or right path to get it.”
Campus Director Dr. Stefani Schuette said the launch of the program “is a direct response to the needs of the St. Louis community and health care system.”
“I don’t know if we have ever had to intentionally recruit for diversity here. It’s already here, we’ve done it. And I say that very confidently,” Schuette said, explaining that the university has been doing the work in helping close the racial, social and equity gap in the health field.
Missouri is facing a significant nursing workforce shortage, with a turnover rate of 16.3%, according to the Missouri Hospital Association. In the St. Louis region, healthcare systems are grappling with workforce instability and limited training pipelines to meet rising patient care needs.
The issue reflects a broader national trend: The U.S. will need more than 194,000 new registered nurses annually through 2032 to keep up with healthcare demand, according to projections from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
“We still see a disproportionate number of caregivers to the population,” said Jett, describing the racial and ethnic gap in healthcare. “It does affect the health outcomes of people of color.”
The Oakland Men’s Health Disparities Project highlights the role representation can play in healthcare, particularly for African American men, who have the lowest life expectancy of any demographic group in the U.S.
The study, which included just over 1,000 participants, found that African American men were more likely to follow through with preventive care when treated by a Black doctor. The findings underscore the importance of trust and cultural understanding in clinical relationships. Yet representation in the healthcare workforce remains limited: in 2019, non-Hispanic Black nurses made up 7.8% of the profession, while 13.4% of the U.S. population identified as Black or African American, according to the Census Bureau.
And a 2022 National Nursing Workforce Study found that 80% of registered nurses identify as white, compared with 72% of the overall U.S. population.
The National Academy of Medicine, formerly the Institute of Medicine, outlined a key vision for the nursing profession in its report, The Future of Nursing 2020–2030: Charting a Path to Achieve Health Equity. One of its core goals is for the nursing workforce to better reflect the communities it serves, ensuring that care is culturally competent and equitable across the board.
The lack of diversity and equity efforts contributes to adverse outcomes for patients and their families who find particular shortcomings detrimental to their overall experience and care — issues like a lack of female leadership, health equity, provider diversity, cultural competence, intellectual and developmental disabilities care and LGBTQ-focused care.
The report calls for increasing both the number and diversity of nurses, particularly those with expertise in health equity, population health and the broader social and economic factors that influence well-being, in leadership roles across sectors — from healthcare boards to school systems and housing authorities.
When implemented correctly, diversity, equity and inclusion efforts can help increase access to care for diverse patient populations, improve care quality and deliver higher patient satisfaction, according to the report.
In 2023 alone, lawmakers introduced more than 45 bills across 25 states aimed at restricting DEI initiatives or banning antiracist programs on college campuses.