SNAH Diversity and Inclusion
(Teaneck, NJ) October 12, 2023—The Henry P. Becton School of Nursing and Allied Health (a division of FDU Health) has received the 2023 Health Professions Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education.
As a recipient of the annual Health Professions HEED Award — a national honor recognizing U.S. health colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion — FDU will be featured, along with 63 other nationally representing recipients, in the November/December 2023 issue of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine.
Major goals in healthcare are to provide care that is sensitive to the needs and experiences of diverse populations and to eliminate disparities in health outcomes. Diversity and inclusion in healthcare refer to the practice of recognizing and valuing differences among patients and healthcare professionals and creating an environment that is inclusive and respectful of all individuals, regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, age, or other characteristics. By fostering diversity and inclusion, healthcare organizations can improve patient outcomes, enhance patient satisfaction, and create a more equitable and just healthcare system for all.
In order to achieve diversity and inclusion in healthcare, healthcare education must embrace parallel values. Diversity and inclusion in healthcare education refers to the intentional efforts made to ensure that the curriculum, teaching methods, and learning environment in healthcare education programs are inclusive of a wide range of perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds. This includes incorporating diverse case studies, patient scenarios, and role models, and providing training on cultural competence and bias awareness. The goal of diversity and inclusion in healthcare education is to develop cultural humility among future healthcare professionals and prepare them to provide equitable care to diverse patient populations. By promoting diversity and inclusion in healthcare education, students develop the skills and knowledge needed to provide culturally sensitive care and help reduce health disparities. Additionally, a diverse and inclusive healthcare workforce can better understand the communities they serve, foster access to care, and improve overall quality of care.
The School of Nursing and Allied Health uses many resources to reach toward the goals of ensuring that our healthcare education programs are inclusive of a wide range of perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds, and that we confront individual and systematic bias. Below are some of these resources:
Recommended Reading
Organizational Websites
Diverse Issues in Higher Education
Diverse Issues in Higher Education Homepage
Inside Higher Education
What the Supreme Court Rejection of Affirmative Action Means
American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)
Making the Case for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Nursing Education (pdf)
Fact Sheet: Enhancing Diversity in the Nursing Workforce (pdf)
Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action
Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action Homepage
National Commission to Address Racism in Nursing
National Commission to Address Racism in Nursing
National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF)
NONPF Reaffirms Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity in Nurse Practitioner Education