As the nursing workforce in Southern Nevada grows increasingly more diverse, awareness and acceptance of cultural differences within the community and the profession have become crucial to improving patient care and increasing retention.

With those issues mind, nurses and educators from across the state gathered for the inaugural Multicultural Nursing Conference--a first-of-its kind forum held at UNLV Sept. 21 and 22 for nurses from diverse backgrounds to explore their cultural and clinical differences and discuss strategies for improving communication and increasing cultural competency.

"Cultural awareness and competency are absolutely essential for nurses to be successful in today's diverse healthcare environment," said Carolyn Yucha, dean of the UNLV School of Nursing. "Our goal is to provide an opportunity for nurses to exchange ideas and share experiences with one another, which will ultimately lead to improved communication and teamwork within the profession."

The conference was presented by the UNLV School of Nursing and offered presentations from UNLV nursing faculty and healthcare leaders on topics including: marginalization, discrimination and exploitation; reality, myths and stereotypes; cultural adjustment; and the experiences of internationally trained nurses in the U.S. nursing environment. The event also featured a keynote presentation by renowned nursing scholar Josepha Campinha-Bacote, who discussed models for enhancing cultural competence in the healthcare industry.

The Multicultural Nursing Conference, held at UNLV's Stan Fulton Building, was co-sponsored by the Nevada Nurses Association, Hispanic Nurses Association, Philippine Nurses Association and Southern Nevada Black Nurses Association. For additional conference information, including complete program details, log onto http://nursing.unlv.edu.