Acknowledging, addressing and tackling anti-Black racism and discrimination within the nursing profession
Racism is an important structural determinant of health. Nurses are a dominant part of the public health workforce, and further public health education, acknowledgment, and action to tackle anti-Black racism and systemic racism is needed.
The Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (RNAO) Black Nurses Task Force’s mandate is “to actively tackle anti-Black racism and discrimination within organizations, associations and the broader health system, targeted towards and experienced by Black nurses.” This report includes a brief history of oppression of Black nurses in Ontario and Canada and highlights how the task force is acting to address systemic racism in the nursing profession through 4 pillars: education and awareness, research, advocacy, and partnership with allies and stakeholders.
Four Pillars of Addressing Systemic Racism:
- Education: The Black Nurses Task Force describes events that have been held with the objective to foster awareness among nurses and the broader public on systemic anti-Black racism and discrimination within the nursing profession.
- Research: The Black Nurses Task Force conducted a scoping review surveying 205 Black nurses in Ontario and found that Black nurses face several challenges due to anti-Black racism in the nursing profession. Enablers and barriers to address anti-Black racism and discrimination within the nursing profession are also identified.
- Advocacy: The Black Nurses Task Force advocates for the implementation of 19 recommendations, based on the literature and survey results, to address anti-Black racism at all levels (micro, meso, and macro).
- Partnership: The Black Nurses Task Force collaborates with the Black nursing community who are leading initiatives in anti-Black racism and discrimination across Ontario. The RNAO has developed 10 internal organizational level actions to guide partnership development.
This report’s findings and recommendations are particularly relevant to those in the nursing profession. However, the findings and recommendations have implications beyond the nursing profession for larger health care and public health systems renewal. Public health is a key partner to address systemic racism as a structural determinant of health.
Use this resource to:
- Learn about anti-Black racism in the nursing profession, its history in Ontario and Canada, and the ways Black nurses are impacted.
- Learn from Black nurses who are leaders in addressing systemic racism in Canada.
- Guide action to tackle anti-Black racism in the nursing profession, and the wider public heath and health sectors.
- Advocate to implement recommendations and policy changes that address systemic racism at micro, meso, and macro levels
Related Resources:
Let’s talk: Racism and health equity
Webinar series on anti-Black racism and public health
Blog post: A call to action to disrupt anti-Blackness in public health practice
NCCDH Podcast: Mind the Disruption – Season 1, Episode 2: Disrupting Whiteness
See other resources on racism, health and equity.
Reference
Black Nurses Task Force. (2022). Acknowledging, addressing and tackling anti-Black racism and discrimination within the nursing profession. The Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario. https://rnao.ca/in-focus/black-nurses-and-rnao#BNTF-report
Tags: Competencies & organizational standards, Racism/racialization, Anti-Black Racism, Report / Document