An education in racism

Lack of diversity in nursing doctoral programs compromises the quality of doctoral education and perpetuates the shortage of faculty of color in nursing schools. To help understand the contexts that contribute to this lack of diversity, this study examined the experiences of 9 women of color in nursing doctoral programs. The aim of the study was to describe the experiences, challenges, and understandings of women of color in nursing doctoral programs. Analysis of interview data revealed that racism was a pervasive and harmful influence on participants and that this influence was largely invisible to Euro-American faculty and students. These findings highlight the need for faculty and students to critically reflect on their own racism as an important first step in challenging the status quo of racism in nursing education. "When I dare to be powerful--to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid." - Audre Lorde (cited in Humbolt State University, n.d.).