Microaggression Among Registered Nurses: An Exploratory Study

Abstract

In this mixed method study, RNs (N = 22) completed the “Acceptability of Racial Microaggressions Scale” (ARMS, based on Mekawi and Todd’s 2018 research) before reading a vignette depicting a Black man in the emergency room. Subsequently, participants responded to three open-ended questions. Results revealed that there was overall low agreement with the ARMS subscales, indicating that the participants were generally unlikely to endorse microaggression; however, the Color Evasion subscale had the greatest agreement (M = 2.701). This suggests a greater adherence to colorblind beliefs and ideology than other forms of microaggression within the sample. The open-ended responses generated three themes: helpfulness, emotional (in)attentiveness, and emergency response. Helpfulness included a desire to assist the patient and obtain the patient’s compliance. Emotional (in)attentiveness was characterized by observations of the patient’s emotions, yet a subsequent lack of acknowledgment of the patient’s feelings. Finally, emergency response encompassed the medical observations and recommendations of the RNs.