Eighty-eight percent of nurses working in nursing homes and residential care facilities and in home healthcare have experienced racism or discrimination from residents, patients or clients, according to the results of a survey conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago on behalf of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
Additionally, 62% of responding nurses who work in those settings have experienced racism or discrimination from colleagues, according to the 36-page report that shared results.
The survey was administered to 980 nurses nationwide from March 23 to April 7, 2022. In addition to long-term care settings, respondents worked in hospitals and physician offices and clinics. The results were released in May.
Overall, the researchers found, racism and discrimination are still prevalent in the nursing industry.
According to the data gathered from across care settings, seeing or experiencing racism or discrimination from residents/patients/clients occurred more frequently (79%) than seeing or experiencing racism or discrimination from colleagues (59%). The percentages were higher for nurses working in nursing / residential care facilities, and home healthcare compared with the other settings.
According to a previous study by the LeadingAge LTSS Center @UMass Boston, a pronounced lack of diversity exists among mid-level managers, senior leaders and board members of organizations that provide long-term services and support organizations. Although some organizations have begun adding positions devoted to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging in their senior leadership teams, the NORC/RWJF survey showed that Black nurses consistently are more likely to see or experience racism and discrimination in the workplace than are their white colleagues.
According to the NORC/RWJF data, Asian and Black nurses are more likely to be insulted, harassed or threatened based on their ethnicity. Likewise, the research showed that Asian and Black nurses are more likely to have seen or experienced nurses being treated with less courtesy and respect and being less trusted based on their race or ethnicity.
Racism and discrimination take their toll on mental health, according to the report. Nine out of 10 nurses who said they have seen or experienced racism also said that it has affected their mental well-being.
Nurses are unlikely to report incidents of racism and discrimination, however. According to the survey results, just 16% of respondents took their observations or experiences to their human resources departments, but 57% spoke with their fellow nurses. Six percent spoke with a union representative.
“Among nurses who reported such observances or experiences, more than 50% say their relationship with supervisors, senior leaders, and fellow nurses was negatively impacted,” the researchers noted.
Nine out of 10 respondents said that DEIB initiatives are a stated priority for their organizations, “but more education and training is necessary.”
The Senior Living DEIB Coalition — a partnership including Argentum, the American Seniors Housing Association and the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care — late last year released the results of a survey summarizing data on industry efforts to address DEIB. According to the coalition, the industry has work to do in how companies prepare and move diverse individuals through organizations.
The focus, the coalition report said, needs to shift to development, education, experience and exposure to the executive management levels. The coalition found that organizations that prioritize DEIB are twice as likely to meet or exceed their financial targets and eight times more likely to achieve better business outcomes.
