Racial Justice
Registered nurses know that our patients’ health is not only determined by what happens when they encounter the health care system, but also by the social determinants of their lives. Racialized inequalities have a profound effect on how public policies, institutional practices, cultural representations, and social norms shape our society. As patient advocates dedicated to preventing and healing all forms of illness, protecting health and safety, and alleviating human suffering, union nurses play an active role in dismantling structural racism. Read more »
Did you know?
The history of nursing is deeply interconnected with the history of racial justice movements. This series of short videos highlights the stories of nurses who have been leaders in the fight for racial justice.
Class available! A History of Racism in Nursing: Creating an Anti-racist Path Forward
This CE class will examine the history of how racism has affected Black, Indigenous, and other people of color and how this history has set the stage for the ongoing structural racism in our health care settings.
Resources
Naming, understanding, and overcoming racism
Every day, nurses see how racism operates by unfairly disadvantaging some individuals and communities while advantaging others. Racism persists when we do not aggressively challenge it. The first step to confronting racism is calling it what it is.
Naming, understanding, and taking action against anti-Asian racism
NNU remains steadfast in our commitment to eradicating racism wherever it operates — from violent attacks, to government policy, to workplace discrimination, to the long history of white supremacy.
Exercise: Talking about racism, racial justice, and health care
An exercise to help us think about and discuss the long-standing public health crisis of racism in the United States. By taking some time to understand and explain the problem, we can start to address and change it in our workplaces and in our communities.
Exercise: Growing racial justice
Think, learn, and share about how you and your coworkers, friends, or family have worked together across different backgrounds to build a more just and equitable society for all people.
Signs and stickers
Download printable signs and stickers to use in the workplace and for actions.
Videos
Nurses of Chinese Hospital stand with their patients against racism
The Covid-19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted our communities of color. As nurses and patient advocates, we oppose all forms of structural racism that negatively affect the public health of our communities.
Safe staffing ratios help nurses address disparities in health care
The ever-rising cost of health care and its discriminatory characteristics contribute to the growing chasm in wealth inequality and health disparities. We all deserve the best care possible and, studies show, staffing ratios save lives!
Nursing our way to health care freedom
Juneteenth reminds us how far we need to go to achieve equity in our workplaces and communities.
Making history
The registered nurses of Chinese Hospital are living role models of Asian American struggle and victory.
Black nurses have always fought for Black liberation
In addition to the ongoing pandemic and all its fallout, we’ve seen years of emboldened hostility against people of color and, now, coordinated right-wing efforts to control what future generations know about our history as a nation.
Celebrating nurses during Filipinx American History Month
Filipinx RNs have played a crucial role in this nation’s nursing workforce and in providing patient care during the pandemic. Despite the heavy toll on the Filipinx community, their fighting spirit has helped others survive.
Press releases
