Beyond representation: Taking concrete action to move towards inclusion and social justice in specialty nursing education

Inclusivity and equity are clear priorities in nursing education today. In the British Columbia Institute of Technology Specialty Nursing Department, concepts of diversity, equity, and inclusion underpin all our nursing pedagogical approaches including clinical practice, theory, and simulation. However, operationalizing these ideas into meaningful activities can be challenging. Here we showcase a concrete educational approach to addressing inclusivity and equity in nursing education in the form of an assignment grounded in equity-oriented care principles that can be adapted for both academic and clinical nursing education contexts. All healthcare providers share accountability for decolonization, anti-discrimination, and equity-oriented approaches to health care. Nursing educators have both the opportunity and responsibility to support the upcoming generation of nurses and specialty nurses to address health inequities at the point of care by first understanding the disparities in their healthcare system. These assignments are a practical and applicable way to begin to plant the seeds of cultural change within the nursing profession, ultimately empowering nursing leaders on the frontline.