Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Committee

Members of the NACNS DEIB Committee underwent specific training to broaden their scope and knowledge with creating practices of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. The committee believes in lifelong continuing education and is consistently evaluating opportunities to enhance foundational knowledge.

Boston University School of Social Work: Understanding Structural & Institutional Racism
Boston University School of Social Work: Understanding Structural & Institutional Racism

• Section 1 introduces initial core concepts that will be used in the rest of this module: political economy, racial capitalism, white supremacy, and structural and institutional racism.
• Section 2 takes a deeper look at white supremacist ideology, its influence on American society and how it can be deconstructed and otherwise contested.
• Section 3 concludes with a look at the history of antiracist activism in the U.S., and the role social workers can play in opposing racism.

National Equity Project: Implicit Bias, Structural Racialization, and Equity
National Equity Project: Implicit Bias, Structural Racialization and Equity
Increased interest in the topic of implicit bias provides an opportunity to open and deepen important conversations in our organizations and communities about equity, belonging, and ultimately justice. Most work on implicit bias focuses on increasing awareness of individuals in service of changing how they view and treat others. But to lead to meaningful change, an exploration of implicit bias must be situated as part of a much larger conversation about how current inequities in our institutions came to be, how they are held in place, and what our role as leaders is in perpetuating inequities despite our good intentions.

The Trevor Project           
The Trevor Project
The Trevor Project is sharing stories during Pride of young changemakers and allies who are taking concrete steps toward improving their communities and building a world where LGBTQ+ young people are embraced as their authentic selves. Everyone deserves support, and that affirmation often empowers young people to find the strength to build a brighter future; that’s why Trevor is here 24/7 for every single LGBTQ+ young person.

Human Rights Campaign
HRC | Human Rights Campaign 
HRC works to secure equal rights for LGBTQ+ individuals and families at the federal and state levels by lobbying elected officials, mobilizing grassroots supporters, educating Americans, investing strategically to elect fair-minded officials and partnering with other LGBTQ+ organizations. The Human Rights Campaign envisions a world where every member of the LGBTQ+ family has the freedom to live their truth without fear, and with equality under the law. We empower our 3 million members and supporters to mobilize against attacks on the most marginalized people in our community.

The Experiential Education Academy (EEA)
Societyforee.org
The Experiential Education Academy (EEA) offers a set of workshops that blends theoretical frameworks with practical applications. They have designed a learning pathway to empower educators to craft engaging and impactful learning experiences for students by combining theory with hands-on practice with DEI webinars, videos, and other resources.

Trans Student
Transstudent.org
Trans Student Educational Resources was co-founded in 2011 two 16-year-old transgender women, as Trans Student Equality Resources. It was and remains the only national organization run by young transgender people. TSER was originally envisioned as an organization for creating safer schools through youth-led action. During the early years, much of our work focused on policy. Since this time, they have hugely expanded efforts in scope and scale to encompass many programs and services [transstudent.org].

DEIB Explorer Playlist
DEIB Explorer Playlist
This playlist will provide a further understanding of patriarchy and antitransgender bias as systems of oppression and their intersection with education. It will also build the basics of feminist curricula and pedagogies that can be used to promote gender transformative education. Building from the work of transformative justice and intersectionality, this playlist will guide you through applied strategies for engaging with students and colleagues around gender-based topics. Through these eight modules, each of which will take about 90 minutes, you will engage in a curated experience that builds upon critical knowledge; provides opportunities for reflection and self work; offers resources to engage in interpersonal and group work; and provides scaffolding to address organizational and systemic change.

GLMA.org
Glma.org
As part of our mission to advance LGBTQ+ health equity, GLMA produces and shares comprehensive LGBTQ+ health resources that cater to both healthcare providers and patients. For healthcare providers, GLMA provides evidence-based educational resources and training to help them provide competent, culturally responsive care to LGBTQ+ patients. For patients, GLMA offers a wealth of information and resources to help them navigate the healthcare system and find LGBTQ+ affirming healthcare providers. Whether you’re a health care provider or an LGBTQ+ patient, GLMA’s resources can help you achieve better health outcomes and promote greater health equity for all.

The National LGBTQIA+ Health Education Center
The National LGBTQIA+ Health Education Center aims:

• To advance health equity for LGBTQIA+ people and the populations which may intersect with the LGBTQIA+ community
• To address and eliminate health disparities for the LGBTQIA+ community
• To optimize access to cost-effective health care for the LGBTQIA+ community
• To improve the quality of care for LGBTQIA+ people by providing training and technical assistance to health care providers and staff across the globe.

The Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM)
The Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) is committed to fostering a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) within the field of critical care. At the direction of SCCM’s elected leaders, the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee has curated a comprehensive list of resources to support its members, who comprise healthcare professionals, educators, and researchers, in their efforts to create a more equitable and inclusive healthcare environment.

• Expand your vocabulary and communication skills.
• Avoid language that could be perceived as exclusionary.
• Create a more welcoming and respectful environment.
• Contribute to a more just and equitable future for critical care.

Cultural Competencies
Cross Cultural Competence is a personal journey. It is the process of developing and becoming aware, seeking knowledge, gaining understanding and appreciation of differences in order to:

1. Demonstrate sensitivity and respect
2. Communicate effectively
3. Advocate for equality in healthcare

Mission
We exist to promote the importance of delivering cross culturally competent health care to people living in our communities. To do this, we will…

1. Collaborate with others to fully utilize the network within our community to assess and understand the needs of the communities we serve (key stakeholders)
2. Identify and provide best practice resources through an accessible and innovative website
3. Serve as leaders and advocates to health care educators, students, and providers
4. Promote the importance of delivering cross culturally competent health care to patients and their families in order to improve health outcomes

The National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS) embarked on a journey to actualize diversity, equity, and inclusion within the association. NACNS met this challenge by forming a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Task Force. Initiatives include understanding the current NACNS demographic, developing a vision and mission statement, and creating a budget. The task force’s work, current diversity of CNSs within the United States, and barriers to diversity in the CNS role are addressed.

NACNS requested the task force be developed into a committee to align the organization’s priorities focusing on DEIB efforts to support the communities we serve.

Coming Soon!

Community forums are intended to create discussion and elicit inquiry in regards to DEIB topics. Please be respectful and professional in communications.

1. Diverse communities: (not all inclusive)

• Black CNSs
• LGBTQIA+ CNSs
• Hispanic CNSs
• Male CNSs
• Military CNSs
• CNSs in Ambulatory Care
• Indigenous CNSs
• CNS students
• Asian & Pacific Islander

2. Diverse patient populations cared for by CNSs: (no all inclusive)

• Indigenous/Rural
• Homeless
• Veteran’s
• Undocumented
• Minority

Myra King, Chair
Jennifer Bierbaum, Co-Chair
Jeri Tidwell, Transitioning Chair
Nicholette Andrews
Priscilla Boateng
Nico C. Buan-Lagazo
Shannon A. Brunt
Aisha Ealey
Samantha Diggs
Jeanna Ford
Susan Fowler
LaToya Freeman
Amber Johnson
Jennifer N. Katlen
Benjamin Lindsay
Mary O. Lawanson-Nichols
Mary Carol Racelis
Ivelisse Sanchez
Tanya Thomas
Luana Vendramel Santos Weeks
Joshua Winowiecki
Kayla Little, Board Liaison

Goals

NACNS is constantly striving for excellence through our passion and active participation in diversity, equity, inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) efforts by all committees. The DEIB Committee identifies current and evolving issues that impact Clinical Nurse Specialists’ working and practice environments.  The NACNS’s goal is to create measurable outcomes and promote a lasting world of DEIB within our organization and our communities through:

• Commitment to raise awareness and eradicate acts of racism, discrimination, xenophobia, and oppression.
• Enhancement of the role and understanding of CNSs in diverse communities.
• Accountability in identifying our own implicit biases and working together to understand each other’s preferences, morals, and values.
• Employment of respect and dignity for all human beings and celebrating the uniqueness and diversity of all CNSs.
• Work to integrate DEIB throughout the governance structures and membership.

Charges

1. Explore opportunities to collaborate with other Professional Healthcare Organizations working to promote DEIB initiatives and diverse partnerships.
2. Engage team membership and talent to foster committee visibility & strengthen DEIB impact and sustainability within NACNS.
3. Promote DEIB-related professional growth and development by connecting NACNS members to internal and external resources/education.
4. Review existing DEIB Toolkits and explore the need to develop a CNS-Specific DEIB toolkit.
5. Post Meeting minutes/Present an update at the Annual Meeting Yearly.

Other charges and activities may be added as deemed appropriate by board of directors and committee chairs.