An antiracism framework for educating nursing professionals

Abstract

Background

A conceptual, methodological, and theoretical framework is needed in Nursing Education to center racism, in the curriculum, as a root cause of health inequity.

Purpose

To provide Nursing and health professions’ educators with a comprehensive unifying framework to fundamentally conceptualize and deliver a curriculum which positions racism’s impact as a root cause of health inequities.

Methods

Critical race theory is the underpinning for a historical analysis of racism and a critique of scientific racism, whiteness, and white supremacy ideologies that perpetuate harmful and lethal outcomes for racialized individuals and communities.

Results

This framework conceptualizes learning, unlearning, relearning, and reflective practice as the fundamental process needed to transformative nursing education and advance health equity.

Discussion

Methodological application is given for 1) unlearning harmful white supremacy ideology 2) learning that racism as it is embedded in every sector of American life and racial inequities are inherent in the health care system 3) relearning the importance of counternarratives and building structural competency and 4) engaging in reflective practice to challenge deficit paradigms assigned to racialized people and their communities.

Conclusion

The Antiracism Framework provides foundational principles, guiding steps, and rationale for curricula that acknowledges the critical role of racism as a barrier to achieving health equity.