Title : Importance of Diversity in Nursing and Nurse Education
Abstract:
Due to increased opportunities for mobility the world is becoming more diverse; this results in communities consisting of a myriad of races, ethnic minority groups, languages, religions, socio-economic groups and experiences. This diversity like threads in a tapestry, contributes to a richer, fuller and more exciting world in which to live; a world which enriches the lives of the people which inhabit it. Nurses have the privilege of working with and integrating with this rich tapestry, as they encounter and work with diverse individuals in their everyday professional practice. However, alongside this privilege comes a great responsibility. Nurses have a unique position in society; they care for individuals at points in their lives when they are at their most vulnerable and in their greatest need, as such it can be argued that the nursing profession needs to reflect the wider diverse of the population that they serve. Alongside this there are professional imperatives to increase diversity within the workforce, in order to address the international shortage of nurses. Within Higher Education these initiatives are often labelled as Widening Participation (WP) which is ultimately concerned with equity; encouraging a wider diversity of entrant to higher education and supporting them to succeed in their studies. WP is espoused within educational policy both in the United Kingdom (UK) and internationally, as a mechanism to promote equality and social mobility. A recent integrative review by the author has identified a lack of conceptualisation and focus regarding mechanisms to both encourage and support a wider diversity of entrant into the profession. This key note shall explore issues related to diversity both within the nursing profession as well as nursing preparatory programmes; drawing upon the author’s current and past research.
