On June 13, 2023, ForHealth Consulting’s Hannah Hermanson, MPH, project management consultant, presented “Belonging in Nursing: An Interactive Conversation on BIPOC Nurse Experiences” at the National Forum of State Nursing Workforce Centers’ annual conference (June 12-14) in Washington, DC, along with Fawzi Belal, MS, diversity, equity, and inclusion associate from the Washington Center for Nursing. The presentation explores racism’s impact on nursing and strategies to promote belonging.
Description of the presentation from the conference website: Historically, the voices of BIPOC [black, indigenous, and people of color] individuals have been silenced. Throughout the 19th century, BIPOC nurses were denied admission to nursing schools. While our society has made progress to integrate our healthcare system, racial disparities in the nursing workforce continue to exist today. These disparities are exacerbated in nursing management and leadership positions (Bennett, 2019). While many organizations talk about the importance of DEI, it is critical they take action to create inclusive spaces for underrepresented individuals to share their experiences and participate in decision-making processes. Our main purpose is to highlight the voices of BIPOC nurses who have been historically underrepresented in nursing and healthcare management.