DiversityNursing Blog

As we celebrate Black History Month, it’s essential to recognize the contributions of Black Nurses and the crucial role diversity plays in healthcare. A diverse Nursing workforce isn’t just about representation, it’s about improving patient care, addressing health disparities, and fostering a more inclusive healthcare system.

Why Representation in Nursing Matters

The U.S. population is becoming increasingly diverse, yet the Nursing workforce does not always reflect this diversity. Representation in healthcare matters because:

• It builds trust with patients. Patients often feel more comfortable and understood when they see healthcare providers who share their background or experiences.
• It improves communication and cultural competence. Nurses who understand different cultural norms and traditions can better educate and care for patients.
• It reduces healthcare disparities. Studies show, patients experience better outcomes when treated by healthcare professionals who understand their unique challenges.
  
  

The Impact of Diversity on Patient Outcomes

A more diverse Nursing workforce leads to better patient care in several key ways:

• Enhanced Patient Engagement: Patients are more likely to follow medical advice when they feel heard and respected.
• More Equitable Care: Diverse Nurses help identify biases and advocate for marginalized patients.
• Innovative Problem-Solving: Different perspectives lead to more creative and effective healthcare solutions.
  
  

Challenges Black Nurses Have Overcome

Despite their invaluable contributions, Black Nurses have historically faced barriers, including:

Exclusion from Nursing Schools: Mary Eliza Mahoney, the first Black licensed Nurse in the U.S., had to fight for education in the 1800s. Many Black Nurses were denied entry to Nursing programs for decades.

Workplace Discrimination: Even after gaining entry into the profession, Black Nurses faced segregation and limited job opportunities.

Health Disparities and Advocacy: Black Nurses have long advocated for underserved communities, often stepping in where the healthcare system has failed. 

Moving Forward: Creating a More Inclusive Future

While progress has been made, there is still work to be done. To support diversity in Nursing, we must:

Promote Nursing programs that encourage diversity and inclusion.

Support mentorship programs for Black Nurses and students.

Address racial disparities in hiring and leadership roles.

This Black History Month, let’s honor the resilience, dedication, and excellence of Black Nurses, past, present, and future. By continuing to advocate for diversity, we can build a healthcare system that truly serves everyone.

In the constantly changing landscape of healthcare, Nurses play a vital role as the cornerstone of healthcare systems. They offer essential care, support, and education to patients. It is crucial for the field of Nursing to embrace Diversity, as it not only promotes social justice but also significantly improves quality of care, fosters innovation, and mirrors the diverse communities Nurses serve.

Reflecting the Communities We Serve

One of the primary reasons Diversity is so important in Nursing is it allows the healthcare workforce to better reflect the communities they serve. Patients are more likely to feel comfortable and understood when they see healthcare providers who share their cultural, linguistic, or racial background. This comfort can lead to more effective communication, greater trust, and, ultimately, better health outcomes. When Nurses understand the cultural nuances and unique needs of different patient populations, they can provide more personalized and effective care.

Improving Patient Outcomes

Research has shown, Diversity among healthcare providers can lead to improved patient outcomes. Diverse Nursing teams bring a variety of perspectives and problem-solving skills, which can enhance clinical decision-making and lead to more comprehensive patient care. For instance, Nurses from diverse backgrounds may be more aware of specific health risks and conditions prevalent in certain communities, allowing for earlier detection and intervention. Additionally, patients are more likely to adhere to medical advice and treatment plans when they feel understood and respected by their healthcare providers.

Enhancing Cultural Competence

Cultural competence is essential for providers to deliver services effectively, meeting the social, cultural, and linguistic needs of patients. A diverse Nursing workforce is well-prepared to achieve cultural competence, drawing from a wide range of cultural perspectives and experiences. This competency is vital in reducing health disparities and ensuring equitable care for all patients. It encompasses not only language proficiency but also an understanding of cultural practices, beliefs, and values that influence health and healthcare behaviors.

Fostering Innovation and Creativity

Diversity brings a wealth of ideas and perspectives that can drive innovation and creativity in the practice. When Nurses from different backgrounds come together, they can challenge the status quo and develop new approaches to patient care, healthcare delivery, and Nursing education. This Diversity of thought is particularly important in addressing complex healthcare challenges, such as the social determinants of health, chronic disease management, and the integration of technology in patient care.

Addressing the Nursing Shortage

The Nursing profession is facing a significant shortage, with an aging population and an increasing demand for healthcare services. By promoting Diversity in Nursing, the field can tap into a broader pool of talent and attract individuals from underrepresented groups. This not only helps to fill the gap but also ensures a more robust and resilient healthcare workforce. Encouraging Diversity in Nursing education and recruitment can help create a pipeline of skilled Nurses ready to meet the demands of the future.

Building a More Inclusive Healthcare Environment

A diverse Nursing workforce contributes to a more inclusive and respectful healthcare environment. It sets a standard for inclusion and equity, encouraging other healthcare professionals to value and respect differences. This inclusive culture can improve job satisfaction and retention among Nurses, as they feel valued and supported in their workplace. It can also lead to better teamwork and collaboration, essential components of high-quality patient care.

Diversity in the Nursing field is not just an ideal; it is a necessity for delivering high-quality, equitable healthcare. It enhances patient outcomes, fosters cultural competence, drives innovation, and addresses workforce shortages. By embracing Diversity, the Nursing profession can better serve the needs of all patients, create a more inclusive healthcare environment, and build a stronger, more effective healthcare system. As we move forward, it is imperative Nursing leaders, educators, and policymakers continue to prioritize and promote Diversity in all aspects of the profession.

Creating a workplace with a strong Diverse, Equitable and Inclusive culture is not only the right thing, it’s also crucial for your retention and improving patient care.

A study from Press Ganey shows health systems with strong Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) values have less risk of staff potentially leaving the organization.

The study also found:

• Healthcare organizations had twice as many employees at risk of leaving if the workforce perceived diversity and equity weren’t prioritized versus work forces that do.  
  
  
• The risk of leaving within 3 years is more than 4 times higher for healthcare workers who believe their organization doesn’t value employees from different backgrounds versus workers who do.  
  
  
• If offered another job, healthcare workers are 4 ½ times more likely to leave an organization if they believe different backgrounds aren’t valued, or if the organization isn’t committed to workforce diversity, versus workers who do.   
  
  
• Perceptions of diversity & equity are a bigger indicator of intent to stay with an organization among security personnel, nurses and physicians than other ancillary staff. 

Having a strong DEI culture allows employees to be comfortable and confident in who they are. This allows them to focus on providing the best patient care possible.

Research shows, 77% of employees and 80% of leaders who are disabled chose not to share their disability in their workplace. For LGBTQ workers, 46% are closeted at their place of work. And across all diverse characteristics, 75% of employees feel the need to mask their differences or downplay them during work.

Employees masking or hiding aspects of themselves during shifts affects their confidence, motivation, feelings of safety and hinders their job performance.

It’s important for healthcare workers to have mentors they can look up to throughout their careers. A lack of diversity can make it difficult for minority healthcare workers to find role models they identify with. This can impact their professional growth and their ability to provide optimal patient care.

A strong DEI culture isn’t something that can be achieved overnight. It requires a leadership who is dedicated to promoting cultural awareness and inclusion. It requires staff who are willing to take the time to learn about and understand each other. It also means being willing to identify and address biases.

Our healthcare system must work hard to increase diversity within their workforce and create an inclusive environment. Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) strategies are necessary for health systems to provide the best care possible to an evolving population.

A sense of Belonging is equally as important. Just because an employee is working in an organization, it doesn't necessarily mean they feel they belong there.

The feeling of belonging is a fundamental human need. It is an extremely powerful force. Without it, your D&I strategy could fail.

The term Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging (DI&B) was created by Pat Wadors. She said, "D&I may capture your head, but belonging captures your heart.”

“When someone is different and insecure and they get to be authentic and are welcomed in a team, we can unlock their super powers and bring out the best—not only in that person, but the team and, therefore, the product, the service, the company, the world,” says Wadors.

Covering or masking is when someone tries to fit in with the dominant culture and downplay who they really are. Research from a Deloitte study of more than 3,000 people found that 61% of people cover at work, even more so if they are Black (79%) or LGBTQ+ (83%).

Neuroscience researchers have found that exclusion lights up the same regions of the brain as physical pain. “Being excluded is painful because it threatens fundamental human needs, such as belonging and self-esteem,” says Dr. Kipling Williams of Purdue University.

When someone feels excluded over a long period of time, and every day they have to return to an environment where they feel like they do not belong, they'll end up leaving.

Dr. Christine Cox of New York University’s Langone School of Medicine has identified six areas that are enhanced by inclusion and worsened by exclusion: intelligent thought and reasoning, self-care and self-improvement, prosocial behavior, self-regulation, a sense of purpose, and well-being. Each of these items represents real financial gains or losses for teams and organizations.

According to Wadors, in order to create a culture of belonging, teams and managers should reflect on three questions:

1. How does your organization celebrate differences?
2. As an employee, do you feel safe if you make a mistake?
3. Does someone at work care about you?

A Forbes article mentions, another way that a sense of belonging can be nurtured is by creating a stronger sense of community.  A sense of community can be nurtured by regular interactions and collaboration. We tend to stereotype people less and are less fearful of difference when we are more familiar with them or spend more time with them.

But most importantly, there must be trust. Employees should have trust in the company's mission, in the leadership's vision and in their goals. Once every employee feels that they belong in the organization, this will lead to a more positive and inclusive workplace.