Combatting Racism in Nursing Education

Blatant displays of racism by a nursing student or any other are deeply disturbing, unacceptable, and emphasize the critical need for continuing efforts to support diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and justice. To create a society where all are respected and valued, we must work together to combat racism, including within the ranks of the nursing profession. We will not uproot the deepest health disparities embedded within our healthcare system if we do not confront the corrosive impact of racism and discrimination.

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing and the National League for Nursing are resolute in our commitment to addressing racism in nursing education while upholding the concepts of diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and justice. We stand together against attacks to censor and dismantle programs that educate students and nursing providers about all forms of racism and promote inclusion.

In the words of Dr. Ibram Kendi: “[We must] believe in the possibility that we can strive to be antiracist from this day forward. Believe in the possibility that we can transform our societies to be antiracist from this day forward. Racist power is not godly. Racist policies are not indestructible. Racial inequities are not inevitable. Racist ideas are not natural to the human mind.”