With this latest contribution, ANA has distributed $300,000 to evidence-based initiatives committed to eliminating racism in nursing in 2024

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SILVER SPRING, MD – The American Nurses Association (ANA) awarded and distributed $100,000 to 12 of the organization’s Constituent/State Nurses Associations (C/SNAs) committed to advancing antiracism in nursing in their respective states. These entities are tasked with implementing evidence-based strategies designed to combat systemic, organizational, or individual racism in nursing.

Following a Request for Proposals (RFP) earlier this spring to all 52 C/SNAs, recipients were selected from proposals aimed at dismantling racism in nursing in four pathways; Organizational Racial Reckoning; Education, Immersion & Training; Advocacy and Legislation; and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) Initiatives.

The 2024 C/SNA winning proposals are:

Arizona Nurses Association will host networking sessions with Arizona-based minority nursing organizations and partner in the development of a culturally focused limited podcast series focusing on death and dying in Arizona's highest population cultural/religious groups with beliefs outside of Western-Centric norms.

Arkansas Nurses Association will, through a multi-day program and subsequent programmatic toolkit, work with health care partners and schools of nursing to create a more equitable and just health care environment by fostering awareness, promoting respectful interactions, and empowering nurses to advocate for change.

Delaware Nurses Association will partner with local experts and organizations to explore and document the history of racism within the Association, creating a DNA racial reckoning statement, and plans to partner with and support state ethnic and minority nurse associations to launch the first annual “Delaware DEIBA Nursing Conference.”

Florida Nurses Association will host monthly virtual webinars addressing evidence-based topics related to advancing antiracism in the nursing profession. As part of a creative immersion project, Florida nurses will have the chance to express these learnings by decorating a square of material constructed to form a hanging quilt to be displayed at various FNA activities.

Georgia Nurses Association aims to bridge DEIB knowledge gaps for Georgia health care leadership stakeholders and community health providers that contributes to lack of diversity in the profession. This project will provide mentorship and training sessions on how to facilitate conversations on antiracism solutions and reconciliation methods to mitigate the perpetuation of assaults related to social justice, racial equity, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging using credible, proven educational methods.

Indiana State Nurses Association plans to co-host an immersive event with the Indiana Organization of Nursing Leadership and other state-wide nursing organizations. This event aims to purposefully include diverse nursing organizations, employers, and academia in sharing best practices to promote diversity and inclusion within the Indiana nursing community. The primary objectives are to facilitate engagement, foster commitment, and ultimately promote inclusion for current and future practicing nurses, faculty, and leaders.

Louisiana State Nurses Association will create a 12-month DEI Health Policy and Leadership Fellowship of 20 participants, including mentor relationships for additional support, to foster educational opportunities which are not normally offered in the traditional nursing education.

Maryland Nurses Association aims to address current public health law requirement for implicit bias training to add a specific requirement for antiracism training. The funds will also be used for developing additional toolkits and access to books, videos and other interactive educational materials to support this requirement.

ANA – Michigan will enhance nurses’ capacity to address social determinants of health (SDOH) through a comprehensive virtual education course, equipping nursing professionals with the knowledge and tools necessary to effectively integrate SDOH considerations into clinical practice, thereby promoting equitable patient care.

ANA – New York will develop and implement a comprehensive train-the-trainer education intervention designed to educate, motivate, and empower nurses to implement strategies that remove barriers and support health equity within health care settings.

Tennessee Nurses Association will engage in organizational racial reckoning by employing a threefold approach which includes: (1) convening a roundtable discussion to explore racism within the organization and the profession; (2) researching and publishing Vol. 2 of A History of the Tennessee Nurses Association; and (3) providing monetary support through the Tennessee Nurses Foundation for historical theses and dissertations and evidence-based projects related to research outcomes.

Texas Nurses Association will have a two-pronged approach addressing racism in nursing. In the first phase of its organizational racial reckoning, TNA's recently formed DEIB Task Force will conduct critical analyses of the association's internal practices, both present day and historical. In the second phase, the task force will use data collected to develop and disseminate a statewide study that offers guidance on how to recognize and eradicate instances of racism in the nursing profession in Texas.

“The American Nurses Association is honored to present these funds to our state partner organizations who are at the forefront of our organizational collective effort to dismantle racism within the nursing profession.” said American Nurses Association President Jennifer Mensik Kennedy, PhD, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN. “We are encouraged and inspired by the commitment shown by our state organizations to mirror our efforts and establish their own robust antiracism programs. This initiative marks a pivotal moment in fostering meaningful progress for nurses across the country, and we eagerly anticipate the transformative impact ahead.”

ANA is committed to taking actions contributing to the healing of nursing. This is ANA’s second time providing funding for programs committed to eliminating racism in nursing in 2024. In January, the National Commission to Address Racism in Nursing (the Commission) which ANA is a member, awarded $200,000 in funding provided by ANA to ten nursing programs and organizations, selected from over 130 submissions nationwide.

The future of the profession will be built upon the decisions of today. To stay up to date on ANA’s future funding opportunities, please sign up to stay informed on this journey.

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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.