Exploring Race in Nursing: Teaching Nursing Students about Racial Inequality Using the Historical Lens

Abstract

Discussing racial inequalities is challenging for nursing faculty and students of all races. Faculty report feeling inadequately prepared to systematically address this topic within clinical and classroom learning environments. This article reports student attitudes of race and health following a case study discussion of racial inequalities present in nursing and healthcare in Charleston, South Carolina between the years of 1883 to 2016. Forty-two students completed a 10-item visual analog scale (VAS) measuring their level of agreement regarding the issues of race and health before and after a classroom lecture. Most students reported an increase in racial tolerance following the lecture. A few students, however, indicated a decrease in racial tolerance following the lecture. Strategies for integrating the curriculum with learning experiences regarding issues of race are discussed.