Equity and Inclusion in Nursing Education

Being empathetic. Actively listening. Providing emotional support. Enabling independence with a supporting hand. That’s compassionate care. But how can you, as a nurse educator, teach your students to provide high-quality, equitable, and inclusive care?

The AACN Essentials and Equity and Inclusion Competency

The AACN Essentials emphasize these competencies for all nurses so they can provide their patients with the respect and individualized attention they deserve regardless of their background.¹ Essentials highlight equity and inclusion in nursing education, setting quality standards and guiding schools to meet them. 

By integrating effective diversity and inclusion strategies into your nursing program’s curriculum and following the AACN Essentials, you can prepare your students with comprehensive and relevant training to face today’s challenges.

Equity and inclusion are core competencies woven throughout all 10 domains of Essentials:

1. Knowledge for Nursing Practice: Understanding how social determinants of health impact patient care and outcomes
2. Person-Centered Care: Tailoring care to meet the unique cultural, spiritual, and personal needs of each patient
3. Population Health: Addressing health disparities and promoting health equity in community and public health initiatives
4. Scholarship for the Nursing Discipline: Conducting research that includes diverse populations and addresses health inequities
5. Quality and Safety: Ensuring that quality improvement initiatives consider diverse patient needs and reduce disparities
6. Interprofessional Partnerships: Collaborating with a diverse healthcare team to improve patient outcomes
7. Systems-Based Practice: Advocating for policies that promote equity and inclusion within healthcare systems
8. Informatics and Healthcare Technologies: Using data to identify and address health disparities
9. Professionalism: Demonstrating a commitment to equity and inclusion in all professional interactions
10. Personal, Professional, and Leadership Development: Cultivating leadership skills that promote diversity and inclusion within the nursing profession

Addressing health disparities is highlighted in the Population Health domain. As future nurses, your students must consider factors such as patient socioeconomic status, race, and access to healthcare. By understanding how to address these disparities, your students can learn how to promote health equity and improve patient outcomes. Additionally, inclusive skills such as active listening and tailored communication are essential. 

As future nurses, your students must provide relationship-centered care, considering each patient's beliefs, values, and personalized information. For instance, if a nurse sees that a hospitalized patient has strong spiritual beliefs, they may arrange to have a quiet space set aside for that patient’s daily prayers. That’s compassionate care that considers inclusion. 

Integrating Equity and Inclusion Skills into Nursing Education

Teaching equity and inclusion to nursing students requires a dedicated strategy. Incorporating case studies and role-playing allows your students to engage with these principles in practical, real-world scenarios. A 2020 study found that using roleplay to teach about equality, equity, human rights, and forced migration effectively helps students practice addressing complex situations related to diversity and inclusion in a low-stakes environment.³

Your curriculum should include dedicated courses on equity and inclusion and integrate these themes across all areas of nursing education. Promote open discussions about diversity and provide resources that enhance your students' understanding and application of these principles.

Evaluating Equity and Inclusion Competency in Nursing

Evaluating equity and inclusion competencies in your nursing students involves ongoing and final assessments. Ongoing assessments, such as reflective journals and peer reviews, provide continuous formative feedback and opportunities for your students to enhance their skills. Final assessments, including exams and practical evaluations, gauge your students' ability to implement these principles in clinical settings. Tools including cultural competence self-assessment checklists⁴ and surveys⁵ can help assess the inclusiveness of educational environments and pinpoint areas needing improvement.

Using UWorld to Build Equity and Inclusion Skills

UWorld provides a range of resources specifically designed to strengthen equity and inclusion skills in your nursing students. Our products include active learning best practices, engaging video lessons, interactive exercises, and targeted practice questions with detailed answer explanations. These tools can help your students grasp core competencies, improve retention, and develop clinical judgment skills.

The case studies and scenarios in all of our exam prep resources feature diverse patient populations, enabling students to experience real-life situations where they must address cultural and social complexities. This approach encourages critical thinking and inclusive reasoning. By examining detailed explanations for each scenario, your students will understand the rationale behind inclusive decisions and learn how to apply these principles in their clinical practice. This comprehensive method ensures that students gain knowledge and become proficient in delivering equitable and inclusive care.

Additional Equity and Inclusion Resources

Numerous resources are available to support equity and inclusion education. The AACN offers Essentials resources¹ and a curricular transition guide⁶, and the American Nurses Association (ANA) provides position statements⁷ on various equity issues. Journals and professional organizations, such as the American Journal of Nursing⁸ and the National League for Nursing⁹, regularly publish research and articles focused on equity in nursing education. By utilizing these resources, you can stay up-to-date with best practices and innovative strategies for teaching equity and inclusion in nursing.

Strategies for Promoting Equity and Inclusion

Promoting equity and inclusion in nursing requires a multifaceted approach that involves education, policy, and support systems. By implementing comprehensive strategies, you can create an environment that nurtures diverse talents and ensures quality care for all patients.

Education and Training

Cultural competence training for nurses ensures they can provide equitable care. Including topics on equity and inclusion in the nursing education curriculum helps prepare your students to address the diverse needs of their patients. 

Incorporating modules on cultural humility, implicit bias, and health disparities can equip your students with the knowledge and skills needed to recognize and address inequities in healthcare. Simulation exercises that mimic real-world scenarios can also be effective, allowing your students to practice their skills in a controlled environment.

Policy and Advocacy

Nursing organizations promote equity through advocacy and policy changes. Successful advocacy efforts and policy changes can lead to more inclusive healthcare practices and reduce health disparities. The ANA has been actively involved in advocating for policies that address social determinants of health and promoting access to care for underserved populations.

Encouraging your nursing students and other professionals to participate in policy-making processes and join advocacy groups can amplify their voices and drive systemic change.

Mentorship and Support Programs

Mentorship programs for underrepresented groups in nursing offer significant benefits. Existing support programs have shown positive impacts, such as increased retention and success rates among minority nursing students and professionals. Implementing mentorship initiatives that pair experienced nurses with students from diverse backgrounds can provide guidance, support, and professional development opportunities. 

Additionally, creating peer support groups and networks can foster a sense of community and belonging, further enhancing the academic and professional experiences of underrepresented nursing students.

Implementing these strategies can help foster an inclusive environment that improves patient care outcomes by creating a workforce that is sensitive to the needs of diverse populations.