Diversity Digest: Spring 2023 Edition

 

The following statement was approved by the AACN Board of Directors at their meeting in Washington, DC on March 26, 2023:

 

As the collective voice for academic nursing, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) stands firm in our commitment to meeting current and future healthcare needs. An expanding body of research shows the importance of a diverse and inclusive nursing workforce for reducing health disparities, addressing social determinants of health, and improving patient outcomes (AACN, 2023; NASEM, 2021). We have a responsibility to protect the public and prepare nurses in alignment with the scope of professional nursing practice. However, legislative proposals recently introduced in several states could interfere with this work. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are concepts that support the preparation of nurses who will contribute to improving access to and the quality of care for all people (AACN, 2017). The exclusion of these concepts will reduce healthcare access, patient safety, and our ability to prepare a nursing workforce able to meet the needs of an increasingly diverse patient population. AACN will continue to champion diversity, equity, and inclusion while promoting the development of a more diverse and inclusive student, staff, and faculty population. We stand ready to assist nursing schools in their efforts to ensure equitable health care for all people.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are critical concepts within the realm of nursing education. Although not unique to the nursing education environment, DEI efforts play a significant role in the development of nurses’ knowledge to increase their ability to address health disparities and inequities.

 

For over 25 years since the publication of Workforce 2000 by the Department of Education, there has been evidence which supports the importance of having a diverse workforce. Simply put, diverse workplaces are more profitable and successful than homogenous ones. According to a McKinsey report, companies in the top quartile for racial and ethnic diversity are 35% more likely to have financial returns above their respective national industry medians. Additionally, companies in the top quartile for gender diversity are 15% more likely to have financial returns above their respective national industry medians. While increasing diversity brings financial results, more importantly to healthcare organizations, it has shown to improve the quality of population health and care for all people. (Gomez et al., 2019).

 

Supportive evidence shows that diverse teams bring diverse perspectives and ideas, which can lead to more creative problem-solving and innovation (Hunt et al., 2015). Additionally, diverse teams see through different cultural lenses to better understand, engage with, and serve the diverse population in the United States. In nursing education and practice, this translates to improved population health that addresses the social determinants of health, patient satisfaction, adherence to care, and quality outcomes (Raghu et al., 2021).

Read the full article >>

Over the past 15 years, Frontier Nursing University (FNU) has built the institutional structure and framework to be a leader in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). These initial steps included forming the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, a Board of Directors DEI Committee, and thoroughly examining and revising the curriculum, policies, and recruitment and retention goals. The success of these efforts has paved the way for the next phase of FNU’s DEI progress. These initiatives intend to engage students and faculty further to participate in DEI conversations and structure and become leaders in the university’s informed decision-making process. 

 

In the summer of 2022, FNU established five Student Interest Groups (SIGs). The groups, which are free and open to all FNU students, include:

• International Students in Nursing 
• LGBTQIA+ Students in Nursing 
• Men in Nursing 
• Military/Veterans in Nursing 
• Students of Color in Nursing 

Read the full article >> 

 

 

 

AACN is currently accepting applications for the 2023 Diversity, Inclusion, and Sustainability in Nursing Education Lectureship Award. This award recognizes outstanding contributions made by schools of nursing for their strong commitment and impact on advancing diversity, inclusion, health equity, cultural humility, and community outreach. Annual awards may be made to one school in each of the following categories: Public Colleges/Universities, Private College/Universities, Small Liberal Arts Colleges, and Academic Health Centers.

 

 

 

AACN’s Diversity Leadership Institute provides an overview of the current state of diversity, equity, and inclusion in academic nursing and the role of Diversity Officers in nursing education and practice. Program facilitators frame DEI within the context of higher education and academic nursing while presenting high-involvement strategies and practices that can be deployed at schools of nursing.

 

View the posters and projects of past cohort members here.