As National Nursing Month wraps up, some public health advocates are still hoping to raise awareness about shortages in the industry as well as efforts to make the medical field a more equitable place. In addition to nurses leaving due to burnout, stress, and under staffing, many cite racism in the field. According to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, 80% of nurses have witnessed patient racism and 60% saw it among colleagues. Kenya Beard Dean and Chief Nursing Officer at Mercy University School of Nursing.
“We know we need to expand capacity, but we need to also address the issues that are contributing to departure and the issues that are limiting access,” according to Beard.
Beard says a new documentary Everybody’s Work: Healing What Hurts Us All” provides an opportunity to start a conversation on the topic.
“So, we definitely need to work together. The National Commission to Address Racism has done much of that legwork already and provided multiple recommendations on what can be done,” Beard said. “And it’s really now up to the institutions to give nurses and healthcare providers in general, because it’s not just unique to nursing…so how do we really contribute and support healthcare providers and nurses so that they stay in the workforce.”
For more information, visit rwjf.org.
