Dear Editor,
I found the article ‘Black, Asian and minority ethnic female nurses: colonialism, power and racism’ (Brathwaite, 2018) quite poignant as Beverly Brathwaite calls attention to serious discrimination and inequality that exists globally in the nursing profession today.
It is an issue that needs to be further evaluated and discussed so that we may better understand and combat it in the future. Brathwaite summarises her findings succinctly among her final words: ‘Additionally, what is needed now, and in the future, is change in the organisational structure of the NHS. There needs to be more ethnicities and gender diversity in senior positions and those in daily contact with patients to not only acknowledge racism but understand how organisational structures and culture perpetuate racism’ (Brathwaite, 2018:257).
I believe that engaging in discussion and addressing instances of discrimination could solve global nursing dilemmas.
Diversifying nursing staff is one of the issues discussed in ‘Cultural diversity: a qualitative study on Saudi Arabian women's experience and perception of maternal health services’ (Karout et al, 2013). This article addresses the serious lack of an in-depth understanding of diversity. They call for similar solutions to Brathwaite: ‘The phenomenon of stereotyping should be highlighted … It also needs to be worked on to introduce this type of education’ (Karout et al, 2013:181). The authors believe that more education, knowledge, and discussion on these issues will aid a solution; I believe Brathwaite would agree.
This is further supported by Almutairi's (2015) article ‘Fostering a supportive moral climate for health providers: toward cultural safety and equity’ in which Almutairi highlights a feeling of ‘disempowerment’ throughout the nursing profession and highlights the dangers of such discrimination. The author wrote: ‘For these nurses, disempowerment was demonstrated in their inability to advocate for their patients, challenge safety concerns, confront discrimination, and overcome feelings of intimidation’ (Almutairi, 2015:2).
The path forward is clear. We must proceed to address, engage and combat the prevalent discrimination that abounds in nursing.