Critical Race Theory: A Framework for the Re-Education of American Nurses

Abstract

The nursing profession has been predominantly white and female since the time of Florence Nightingale. The United States 2020 census revealed a changing demographic landscape in which white people are no longer the majority race; this shift will continue well into the future based on who is having babies. Calls to diversify the nursing workforce and address disparities and inequities in health care continue. Nursing faculty who shape curricula are challenged to create a more inclusive framework to teach students about care. Without focused attention on how to prepare future nurses to care for all people, patient safety and quality of care are at stake. This article suggests using critical race theory as a framework to re-educate American nurses.