There have been a number of articles addressing diversity in nursing programs and the nursing workforce. However, few of the programs have reviewed the best practices to attract and retain nursing students. This article delineates a number of programs and then makes suggestions for the best practices for nursing schools.

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Skin colour affects the lives of young people culturally, socially, emotionally and medically. This project was conceived by a young black film-maker from Handsworth to explore how young people feel about their particular skin pigmentation. Together with the TV company Resource Base and the Dermatology Department at Birmingham Children's Hospital he applied successfully to the Wellcome Trust for a Pulse award which provides funding for arts projects which engage young people with biomedical science.The aims were to engage young people from the Black community in the West Midlands in raising awareness of the determinants of skin colour, and to develop scientific understanding and also film-making and marketing skills of those participating.The film crew and professionals met with young people from ethnic minorities in homes, community centres, schools and on the streets. About 30 took part in developing the music video, another 40 in workshops leading to the drama production, 20 in filmed discussions of their perceptions of skin colour, and six in filming and post-production work. Material was checked for scientific accuracy by the dermatology team.The resulting DVD features a short drama about skin-lightening treatment, and a rap, both written, performed and filmed by the group. Other features include a discussion about skin colour, and question-and-answer sessions with members of the dermatology team. The DVD, which was launched at The Birmingham Artsfest on 9th September 2006, will be marketed to schools throughout the U.K. A 32-month-old girl of Pakistani origin presented to the paediatricians with a short history of abdominal pain, decreased appetite and lethargy and a history of developmental delay. She was referred to us when it was noted that her hair and eyebrows were silver in colour. While in hospital, she became progressively more unwell, developed neck stiffness and refused to walk. A diagnosis of acute meningitis was made and a prelumbar puncture computed tomographic scan showed hydrocephalus with enlarged third and lateral ventricles. She underwent a third ventriculostomy and insertion of a reservoir. Magnetic resonance imaging showed multiple focal ill-defined enhancement with larger enhancing masses in the cerebellum. These appearances were initially thought suggestive of widely disseminated lymphoma or leukaemia. Surgical biopsy of these lesions was performed and histology showed some evidence of histiocytic tumour with a degree of erythrophagocytosis and lymphophagocytosis.In view of the histology and the phenotypic features, Griscelli syndrome was considered. Blood and hair from the patient were analysed and she was confirmed to be homozygous for a mutation in the RAB27A gene, which has been described in Griscelli syndrome. She has subsequently undergone bone marrow transplantation.Griscelli syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive disorder resulting in partial albinism and a combined immunodeficiency. 1 Our case is unusual in that the presentation was neurological with no evidence of cytopenia.R...

Tobacco use, especially smoking, poses an enormous threat to public health. Research indicates tobacco use is linked to many illnesses and premature death. It also has unhealthy consequences in non-smokers through second-hand exposure. Primary care clinicians have the "golden opportunities" to intervene during office visit encounters. This study examined the use of an iPad educational application in tobacco cessation counseling that would increase acceptance of a prescription to aid with cessation, compared to the traditional method of counseling only. Utilizing smoking cessation guidelines, a descriptive quantitative exploratory methodology was used in two phases to assess the effectiveness of tobacco cessation education in a traditional verbal counseling versus the additional use of a mobile application along with standard tobacco cessation counseling in a primary care clinical setting. Total of 49 participants were recruited in two different groups. The standard cessation counseling had 29 subjects for Phase I and 20 participants in the enhanced tobacco cessation education group in Phase II. The enhanced tobacco cessation education with an iPad was more effective in smoking education than the traditional standard verbal counseling on smoking cessation. The addition of a mobile device with relevant educational materials shared with smokers by clinicians have shown an increase in acceptance of a prescription to aid tobacco cessation. Clinicians are strongly encouraged to find innovative ways to help smoking patients accept aids in successful cessation attempts.