Advancing Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Through the Transformation of Nursing Education

Introduction

According to the American Nurses Association’s (2015) Code of Ethics, respect for everyone’s “innate dignity, worth, and unique attributes” is a foundational value that guides nurses’ actions and attitudes. Nurses are tasked with addressing societal health requirements by assisting individuals, families, groups, and communities in achieving their optimal level of well-being (Perry et al., 2017). As such, nurses have a social mandate to address health equity, which is defined by Healthy People 2030 as “the attainment of the highest level of health for all people” (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, n.d.-a, para. 5). The concept of health equity indicates that everyone is valued equally, and societal efforts must be focused on addressing inequalities and injustices and transforming healthcare to eliminate disparities. Respecting patients’ preferences, values, and needs while engaging patients in active partnerships is central to patient-centered care (Kwame & Petrucka, 2021). The incorporation of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) into nursing curricula is a prerequisite for professional development and practice across diverse settings and populations (Buchanan & O’Connor, 2020). This is intended to reflect the dynamic landscape of patient populations served by health systems and create a safe environment for teaching and learning while also improving the quality of nursing education (American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 2019). This chapter begins by defining the principles essential for addressing health equity and highlights the historical importance of nursing efforts in tackling health and healthcare inequities. Next, this chapter describes the current state of various contextual elements that influence nursing education, focusing on health equity and future issues for nursing education and the nursing workforce.