Advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging within academic nursing

Abstract

The lack of diversity in professional nursing education curricula, practices, and policies is reflective of its colonialist history. Despite increasing calls for action and organizational position statements affirming the importance of advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, this deeply rooted history has led to embedded structural racism and other forms of bias that have remained rife in the discipline. The desire to maintain a status quo that ignores the institutional and structural effects of bias has even led some states to defund and disempower institutions historically charged with advancing knowledge and fostering inclusive education. Ongoing inattentiveness to addressing bias and practices that center idealized Whiteness diminishes our disciplinary capacity for innovation and reduces the likelihood of achieving key nursing aims such as the optimization of health for all and the adequate preparation of a civically engaged and socially conscious workforce. The following commentary examines how centering diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging as key values provides a basis for a culture change that can decolonize the discipline.