Countering the influence of cultural hegemony on choosing a nursing career: a group-mentoring approach for student recruitment

J Nurs Educ. 2014 May 1;53(5):296-9. doi: 10.3928/01484834-20140408-02. Epub 2014 Apr 8.

Abstract

Extensive literature exists that demonstrates the influence of social cues and interpersonal interactions with influential others on student career choices. This article applies Gramsci's political views of hegemony and counterhegemony to situate student descriptions of their experiences and the goals of a group-mentoring session designed to address the culturally hegemonic symbolic cues and interpersonal interactions that can negatively influence a student's desire to select a career in nursing. Specifics around the development, implementation, and evaluation of the group-mentoring session, as part of a broader school-wide culture to promote diversity and as a larger program to increase the diversity of the nursing workforce, are described.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Anthropology, Cultural*
  • Career Choice*
  • Cues
  • Cultural Diversity
  • Humans
  • Interpersonal Relations
  • Mentors / psychology
  • Nursing Education Research
  • Nursing Evaluation Research
  • Nursing Methodology Research
  • Nursing*
  • Personnel Selection / methods*
  • Schools, Nursing / organization & administration
  • Students / psychology*