Ep31: Nurses: Champions for Social and Racial Justice Highlights

“Change first starts with each one of us as individuals, and we can't be better Nurses or Nurse Coaches, if we're not aware of our own biases, if we're not aware of defensiveness, or those feelings of guilt, or fear, or whatever that comes up when we really do this work. Then we can't really get to the place where we're going to be able to help our patients be healthier.”

~Nikki Akparewa, MSN, RN, MPH

“Jump in now, wherever, whatever calls to you, maybe there's a book group in your community. Join us at Nurse Champions for Justice. Just pick up a book and start reading. Get some podcasts and listen to other people's voices. Listen with that openness and curiosity. Just start. Now, start now.”

~Jayne Peterson, BSN, RN, NC-BC

“In talking about racism as a European descendant, white bodied person is the shame, the shame growing up in a racist country. All kinds of shames that we have. Shame prevents us from being authentic, because we have to hide, if we don't want people to know, our areas of shame, or our areas of vulnerability, we have to hide. This work helps us unpack that.”

~Jackie Levin, RN, MS, AHN-BC, HNWC-BC

At Nurse Coaches for Justice,  we focus on the heart felt work of unlearning racism, uncovering the many forms of oppression that exists—seen and unseen, and working to disrupt systems of racism and oppression towards creating a healthy environment where all can be free and thrive, within a supportive and loving community. 

Ah-Ha's

• The American Nurses Association defines racism as a public health crisis
• Racial justice work is heavy lifting and must be combined with self-care
• Racial justice work requires community, authentic conversation, deep listening and a willingness to be unbalanced
• To truly care for all humans, we must first look into our own selves to understand our own biases, hidden agendas, fears, guilt, defensiveness and social structures that perpetuate health inequity
• Begin now, in whatever way calls to you, to learn about diversity, inclusion and equity
• Address your Board of Nursing to demand racial justice learnings be incorporated into licensure
• Address your workplace to demand racial justice education for all employees

Resources and Links

94% of Nurses Say There's Racism in Healthcare: Survey Medscape

Nikki Akwarpea’s book: The Clinicians Guide to Microaggressions and Unconscious Bias

Nurse Champions for Justice

Valarie Kaur, Revolutionary Love Project

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