All the types of discrimination mentioned above have detrimental effects on nursing care and patient outcomes. In terms of racism, healthcare disparities between whites and people of color reflect the profound impact of systemic racism in healthcare (
reference). For instance, discrimination contributes to the higher rates of child mortality among Black communities than White communities. Historically, Black children have suffered inequitable medical care and lack of access to healthcare facilities. Besides, the influence of perceived discrimination on health can be devastating (
reference). Policies regarding access to health care, and health care funding are the reasons for health disparities. Additionally, systematic racism has led to the dearth of people of color in nursing leadership roles. Nursing leadership positions held by people of color are as follows; only 9 percent of healthcare CEO positions, 11 percent of executive healthcare positions, and 19 percent of first-level and midlevel healthcare management positions.
Discrimination in Nursing – What is it? What can nurses do?
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Ageism has serious consequences on nurses affecting their financial security, career growth, as well self-esteem. Age discrimination in nursing result in job denial to qualified individuals and may even lead to the early retirement of nurses (
reference). Age discrimination also has a bad influence on the quality of care since nurses’ self-esteem is reduced. When people believe they are experiencing discrimination based on personal characteristics, they may develop poorer physical and psychological health (
reference). The association between perceived discrimination, racism, and health, including mental health, chronic health conditions, and personality development, has been a focus for a greater understanding of health disparities among ethnic groups.
Solutions to Addressing Discrimination in Nursing
Nurse leaders must set appropriate measures to tackle discrimination in nursing. They should initiate a conversation with their staff about different types of discrimination and how to prevent them (
reference). Nurses should reflect on the experiences of nurses and patients who experience discrimination so that they can understand the impact it has on people. (
reference) states that intentional or blatant discrimination must not be tolerated and must be immediately addressed. Nurses need to engage in a period of self-reflection about their personal and professional values regarding mutual respect, civility, and mutual respect.
Nurses should come out and support the nursing environment to include or promote civility and human rights for healthcare workers, patients, and others. Nurses must encourage all healthcare agencies to adopt and aggressively maintain policies, procedures, and practices that embrace inclusiveness, and promote civility and mutual respect in healthcare (
reference). Facilities should contain methods for reporting violations, and require interventions to avoid recurrence. Besides healthcare policy, education is a very powerful tool to utilize. Both patients and nurses should receive education about discrimination and the consequences associated with it (
reference). Educational activities together with strict policy is a sufficient recipe for reducing discrimination in nursing to a bearable level.
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Conclusion
Discrimination may be defined as unfairly treating individuals or a group of people differently from others. Discrimination can culminate into dangerous assumptions about other people based on age, race, or gender. Some of the types of discrimination in nursing include racism, ageism, and gender. Nursing education and training should consider discrimination as an area of education.
References
The list of references follows;
