The American Nurses Association (ANA) and the Indiana State Nurses Association (ISNA) are deeply disturbed by the racist commentary of a white nursing student at Indiana State University posted recently to a video on Yik Yak. The commentary in the video is offensive and completely unacceptable and does not align with the professional values and standards of nursing. The inaccurate, dehumanizing, and insensitive remarks made about the horrific, colonizing institution of slavery are hurtful to students, faculty, and the community-at-large.

This incident underscores an urgent call-to-action for all academic and health care institutions to adopt and aggressively maintain diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) education and programming, including how history is taught. Nursing Schools are accountable and obligated to educate the next generation of nurses by establishing and enforcing antiracism and DEIB programs, in accordance with the Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements.

ANA and ISNA strongly urge ISU and the School of Nursing to take appropriate and swift action to protect their students, faculty, and future patients who could be harmed by their graduates who have visible and documented racist ideology and belief systems. ISU must fully leverage this moment to exemplify accountability and the highest ideals of learning and education. This must include addressing biases, prejudices and racist beliefs, an action that is paramount in rooting out and dismantling racism in nursing now, and in the future.

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The American Nurses Association (ANA) is the premier organization representing the interests of the nation's more than 5 million registered nurses. ANA advances the profession by fostering high standards of nursing practice, promoting a safe and ethical work environment, bolstering the health and wellness of nurses, and advocating on health care issues that affect nurses and the public. ANA is at the forefront of improving the quality of health care for all. For more information, visit www.nursingworld.org.

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