The Decolonization of Nursing Education

• Published in: Journal for nurse practitioners Vol. 17; no. 2; pp. 225 - 229
• Main Authors: Zappas, Michelle, Walton-Moss, Benita, Sanchez, Cynthia, Hildebrand, Janett A., Kirkland, Tracie
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.02.2021; Elsevier Limited; Elsevier
• Subjects: African Americans; Bias; By Faculty for Faculty; COVID-19; Cultural competence; Curricula; Decolonization; Defensiveness; Disability; diversity; Diversity equity & inclusion; Education; Gender differences; Health care access; Health disparities; Internalization; Medical education; Microaggressions; Moral responsibility; Nursing; nursing education; Race; Racial differences; Racism; Religion; Schools; Sexual orientation; Social classes; Social factors; United States > US; nursing education; diversity
• ISSN: 1555-4155; 1878-058X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nurpra.2020.11.006

In the era of COVID-19, coupled with a community in tune to Black lives, the call to action is now. It is now time to stop, listen, and be intentional in efforts to create sustainable policies and programs that shape the ability to deliver culturally competent care to diverse patients, families, professionals, and communities. Our recommendations for how faculty and academia can decolonize nursing education are delineated in this article. All nursing schools and departments should form a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) committee, if they have not already done so. DEI committees can help thread Social Determinants of Health throughout the curriculum, highlight and address microaggressions, and develop formal and informal mentorship programs. As nurses, we must continue the discussion of race with humility but without denial and defensiveness. Subtle racist biases may be unintentionally internalized, and it is our moral and ethical responsibility to recognize these and fight them so that they do not result in prejudicial policy, practice, research, and education. Faculty should celebrate diversity through an exchange of ideas and open communication despite differences in race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, age, social class, or disability. •In the era of COVID-19, coupled with a community in-tune to BIPOC lives, the call to action is now.•It is time to create sustainable policies and programs that shape the ability to deliver culturally competent care.•Nursing faculty from all levels must address the social determinants of health throughout the curriculum in a proactive, sustainable way.•BIPOC and White allies need to take action to diminish and deflect microaggressions in the academic setting.•Mentorship is a way to increase and retain workforce diversity at all levels of nursing and health care.