Developing anti-racist undergraduate nursing education: themes and action

Abstract

The impact of racism on health is undeniable. However, undergraduate nurse education in the UK is not adequately addressing the racism within the profession. Literature on anti-racist nursing education was reviewed to uncover the most effective strategies for nurse educators to develop this approach. The literature describes a climate of denial and defensiveness among nurse educators. It urges nurse educators to develop racial literacy, and explores nursing curricula, recommending intersectionality as a way to teach about health disparities, with a move away from a culturalist perspective. There is growing recognition that institutions need to address issues around the retention of Black students, and robust reporting systems are required to respond to allegations of racism. Institutions also need to provide evidence-based anti-racist training for staff. The conclusion here is that, without institutional support, there is little nurse educators can do alone to change the culture of racism in nurse education. Thus, this review is a starting point for nurse educators interested in anti-racist nursing education.

Keywords: Anti-racism; Intersectionality; Nurse educators; Nursing education; Privilege; Racism.