| Washington, DC — In a bold new professional development program, the National League for Nursing will transform nursing education to address the destructive impact of structural racism and related broad societal inequities on access to and delivery of quality health care to communities of color. The Taking Aim Initiative: Structural Racism, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Implicit Bias, and Social Justice will enhance the preparation of nursing graduates at all levels of higher education to provide safe, high-quality care to patients, families and communities at risk.
Established with the support of AMN® Healthcare and Elsevier Nursing & Health Education, the Taking Aim Initiative will produce a year-long series of webinars, an interactive workshop, and online resources. Developed and presented by thought leaders and scholars in nursing education through the NLN Institute for Diversity and Global Initiatives and housed in the Center for Transformational Leadership, this endeavor will:
• Enable nurse educators to become better informed about the impact of structural racism, diversity and inclusion, and equity on nursing education
• Address the impact of structural racism on social determinants of health
• Create a forum for nurse educators to openly dialogue about sensitive issues of bias and racism in nursing education and health care
• Offer strategies for classroom and clinical instruction to best prepare new nurses to encounter and defuse structural racism on the job
The first two of four webinars have already been set. Kenya Beard, EdD, AGACNP, CNE, ANEF, FAAN, associate provost of Chamberlain University, will facilitate the introductory webinar on May 26; and Cynthia Clarke, PhD, RN, ANEF, FAAN, founder of Civility Matters™, will lead a session on civility in the health care environment on June 17. Dr. Beard will also lead a workshop during the summer. Both Drs. Beard and Clarke are respected scholars known as powerful advocates for diversity and inclusion in nursing and nursing education.
“The structural racism, implicit biases, exclusion and social injustices that for centuries have beset people of color in the U.S. has become more apparent this year as the COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately devastated minority communities across America,” said NLN Chair Dr. Patricia S. Yoder-Wise, RN, EdD, NEA-BC, ANEF, FAONL, FAAN, Professor and Dean Emerita at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center and president of The Wise Group. “Current social, cultural and economic forces have made the introduction of this novel faculty development initiative particularly timely and relevant.”
NLN President and CEO Beverly Malone, PhD, RN, FAAN said, “On behalf of the National League for Nursing, I want to salute our funding partners at AMN Healthcare and Elsevier Nursing and Health Education for joining us in this forward-thinking vital call for action to change the health outcomes for vulnerable populations. It is only by engaging broad support in the battle against structural racism and related social ills that nursing education may help overcome their widespread, destructive effects.”
“AMN is committed to racial and social justice, and that includes helping nurse graduates overcome implicit biases that are deeply embedded in our society and institutions,” said Susan Salka, CEO of AMN Healthcare. “As the largest health care profession, nurses can make a tremendous impact in addressing health inequities and structural racism in healthcare. Our team is proud to support the Taking Aim Initiative.”
“As an organization committed to fighting systemic racism and eradicating racial bias from health care, Elsevier is honored to partner once again with the National League for Nursing and AMN Healthcare on the Taking Aim Initiative,” said Brent Gordon, Managing Director, Elsevier Nursing & Health Education. “By engaging in courageous conversations today, our nurse educators and future nurses are working to create a safe and equitable health care environment for communities of color.”
AMN Healthcare is the leader and innovator in total talent solutions for health care organizations across the nation. AMN engages an active strategy to enhance diversity, equality and inclusion in our workplace, workforce and marketplace. The AMN team is committed to building an organization and society where equality is the norm, equity is achieved, and inclusion is universal so that we may all thrive. AMN’s diversity, equality and inclusion philosophy is grounded in the belief that we should respect all voices, seek diverse perspectives, and succeed when we act together as a positive force for all of humanity.
Elsevier Education empowers higher learning institutions and educators with exceptional content, learning technology, and assessment tools that help transform today’s students into tomorrow’s healthcare professionals. Elsevier is committed to driving Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion awareness and action in our global community. Learn more about Elsevier’s Inclusion & Diversity Advisory Board activities here as well as various Inclusive Workplace initiatives here.
For more information about the Taking Aim Initiative about structural racism and to register for a webinar, visit NLN.org.
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