Introducing the special collection on decolonizing nursing academia to enhance the success of students and faculty identifying as Black, Indigenous and people of color to create a pathway toward equitable health outcomes for underserved communities

Abstract

The nursing profession is considered one of the most trusted professions, yet it is not exempt from systemic racism that leads to exclusionary practices and ultimately impacts health outcomes for non-White communities. Like most Western institutions, academic nursing is informed by and centered in Whiteness, which values individualism, independence and competition and marginalizes the collectivistic and collaborative nature of most cultures of the Global South. This has important implications for the success of students and faculty who identify as Black, Indigenous and people of color. A destructive cycle is created when faculty are unable to succeed in academic environments, leaving students without role models and mentors with whom they can identify, and potentially results in a nursing workforce that does not reflect the communities we serve. Ultimately lack of representation in the nursing workforce erodes the trust of patients and families and endangers health outcomes for marginalized groups. As we endeavor to address health disparities for communities experiencing the greatest marginalization, we need to address the very foundations of the academic experiences for nurses by decolonizing the academic nursing space to ensure the success of all students and faculty. To that end, this special collection brings together 15 innovative and visionary articles that stimulate our imaginations to think beyond accepted norms in the academic sector to address disparities in nursing education and inequities in health outcomes.