New guidance to support nurses to talk about racial equality at work

A new tool has been launched to support nurses to talk about racism and take action to promote racial equality in the workplace.

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has partnered with NHS England (NHSE) to develop the new interactive resource – Taking Time to Talk: Advancing Race Equity in Nursing and Midwifery – which comes during Black History Month.

It focuses on the types of conversations and actions that support the movement towards racial equality across all UK care settings.

And it is designed to increase understanding of racism and racial dynamics in the workplace, while working to help eradicate discrimination in the workplace, the RCN said.

It covers microaggressions, psychological safety, and allyship, as well as actions that can be taken to promote racial equity and how to support staff in speaking up and getting help.

Wendy Irwin, RCN Diversity and Equality Coordinator, said: “Every member of the nursing workforce has a responsibility to promote racial equality.

‘Racism has no place in nursing – but we know discrimination still exists.’

Ms. Irwin reiterated the need to “focus on how we can actively advance racial equity – something that requires all of us to take time to talk about race.”

“This resource aims to give our members guidance on how we can do this,” she said.

She added: “Part of the reason the healthcare sector is so special is its diverse workforce.

“Patients benefit from being treated by people with different skills, experiences, interests and talents.

“That’s why it’s so important to promote and develop inclusive workplaces and challenge racism wherever and whenever it occurs.”

Earlier this year, the RCN launched its Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Strategy, which outlines the union’s commitment to “promoting inclusion, diversity and supporting equality for all members”.

Commenting on the new interactive resource, Neomi Bennett, registered nurse and founder of campaign group Equality 4 Black Nurses (E4BN), highlighted that for guidance to be effective, “it must go beyond conversations”.

“While we recognize the intent behind this guidance, the harsh reality remains – policies and reporting have rarely led to meaningful change, especially in addressing anti-Black racism,” she said.

Ms Bennett added: “We need robust accountability, clear consequences for those who perpetuate or ignore racism, and concrete actions that directly address the structural inequalities that Black nurses face.”

And he called for a focus on “producing tangible results that specifically address anti-Black racism, not just broad statements about diversity and inclusion.”

“We remain open to greater engagement, but it is time to see real progress in dismantling the barriers that hold back Black nurses,” she added.