CVS Health Announces Strategic Partnerships with Two National Multicultural Nursing Associations

WOONSOCKET, R.I., Jan. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of an ongoing commitment to develop a diverse workforce that reflects the patients and communities it serves, CVS Health today announced strategic partnerships with two leading national organizations whose mission is to advance the multicultural nursing populations in the United States: the National Black Nurses Association (NBNA) and the National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN).

Through these newly formed alliances, CVS Health, the nation's largest pharmacy innovation company, will establish workforce development programs and strategies that facilitate multicultural talent acquisition to further develop the company's own diverse nursing populations through education, training and colleague engagement. With a unique continuum of health care products and services, CVS Health supports a broad nursing workforce that includes: Nurse Practitioners who see patients through the company's MinuteClinic network; Nurse Patient Care Specialists who serve the company's specialty patients; Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) Nurses who provide in-home education and infused medication therapies; and Patient Education Nurses who deliver disease education and case management to patients over the phone.

Additionally, these partnerships will enable CVS Health to increase the number of internships and scholarships that the company extends to multicultural candidates.

"At CVS Health, we recognize the strong connection between a culturally diverse nursing workforce and the ability to provide quality, culturally competent patient care," said David Casey, Vice President, Workforce Strategies, and Chief Diversity Officer at CVS Health. "We value the multicultural communities, customers and patients we serve and we look forward to working closely with NBNA and NAHN, as we continue to help bridge the current nursing shortage in the United States and enhance access to quality care to underserved populations."

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there will be more than one million open positions for registered nurses across the country by 2022. Moreover, while U.S. Census Bureau statistics show that ethnic minority groups account for 37 percent of the U.S. population, industry research shows that nurses from minority backgrounds represent only 19 percent of the RN workforce, with African-American and Hispanic nurses representing 6 percent and 3 percent, respectively.

"CVS Health and NBNA share the common goal of supporting the development of African American nurses which is reflective of our nation's diversity," said Eric J. Williams, DNP, RN, CNE, President, NBNA. "This new partnership will allow our two organizations to work collaboratively to increase access to care and improve the health of the communities we serve."

"We're grateful to CVS Health for partnering with NAHN to help achieve our mission of improving the quality of health care for Hispanic consumers," said Celia Besore, Executive Director, NAHN. "We look forward to working together to provide equal access to educational, professional and economic opportunities for Hispanic nurses in our country."

As one of the largest employers of pharmacists and nurse practitioners, CVS Health is committed to helping advance the education of talented students pursuing careers in the field.  The CVS Health Foundation has provided scholarships to pharmacy students for many years and, in 2016, the Foundation will begin awarding funding to nursing and physician assistants schools to support the pipeline of much-needed nurse practitioners in local communities across the country.

About CVS Health

CVS Health is a pharmacy innovation company helping people on their path to better health. Through its more than 9,500 retail pharmacies, more than 1,100 walk-in medical clinics, a leading pharmacy benefits manager with more than 70 million plan members, a dedicated senior pharmacy care business serving more than one million patients per year, and expanding specialty pharmacy services, the Company enables people, businesses and communities to manage health in more affordable, effective ways. This unique integrated model increases access to quality care, delivers better health outcomes and lowers overall health care costs. Find more information about how CVS Health is shaping the future of health at https://www.cvshealth.com.

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SOURCE CVS Health

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