Eyes wide open

FigureFOR THE LAST FEW years, I've written companion editorials with Rhonda Foster-Smith, a Nursing Management editorial board member, about topics that can, and should, make us uncomfortable and force us to ask questions. We both find ourselves here again, and in a rapidly changing environment. As you're all aware, the current US government expects that organizational policies eliminate any diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs to maintain federal funding. How do we proceed? As nurses with a foundation in ethics and science, we must keep our eyes wide open and do what we always do—value every person as a human being and advocate for them and their health without judgment. This goes for our workforce and our patients. Words can disappear, but our values, courage, and caring remain intact. Many institutions, including healthcare organizations, are removing all references to DEI—from their websites to their bulletin boards in staff rooms. Jobs with DEI in their titles are either disappearing or the job title is changed to reflect values rather than a prohibited program. It's all about mitigating risk. Forward-thinking organizations aren't abandoning their principles; they're moving forward with reframing and/or integrating to comply with federal requirements while carefully evaluating programs to remove any discriminatory elements in alignment with antiracism and equity. Don't lose sight of what matters or get distracted by the noise. Let's stick with what's right and still important: facilitating diversity of thought; identifying unconscious biases; engaging and ensuring belonging of all members of the workforce; casting a wide net for the recruitment of talented employees; and fighting racism, injustice, health disparities, and inequity. These actions all impact the well-being of our workforce, patients, and communities—our true north. This isn't about a DEI program or politics; it's about human dignity and social justice. As a wise colleague and fellow American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL) board member, Joel Moore, expressed to me, “words are words, lean into action.” It's not about the words; it's about our values and ethics. That hasn't changed. If we choose to stand still, or even worse, turn our backs and close our eyes, we risk losing the trust of our workforce and their engagement. That could cost millions in turnover besides our own sense of doing the right thing. Dr. Foster-Smith addresses this perspective in her complementary piece, “Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater,” describing the impact of the potential loss of acceptance and inclusion. She uses Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs as a theoretical base because, yes, both science and ethics are at work here. It's a sad situation when authors worry about publishing their work on health equity, diversity, or inclusion. Even peer reviewers have expressed concern about accepting a review if those words appear in the title of the paper. And there's more to worry about with the everyday barrage of changes that affect the provision of patient care, from reimbursement cuts to immigration raids to escalating costs of imported supplies. Those changes are in addition to the “usual” challenges nurse leaders face. I repeat, it's about our values and ethics. Nurses have historically led the way to better futures against all odds to fight for humanity in how we care for all people and each other. Healthcare disparities and inequitable treatment never sit well with nurses. We'll continue to use our critical relational and advocacy skills. When we're uncertain, we'll use our values and ethical perspectives to make decisions or at least guide our actions. The disappearance of words doesn't change that. Keep your eyes wide open and move forward. It's our mission and our legacy.Figure