Does race still matter in nursing? The narratives of African-American nursing faculty members

The rise in undergraduate enrollment of African-American students has not translated into more African-American faculty members, although they could mentor minority students and promote an ethos that encourages their academic success. Discrimination against African-American faculty members continues, which could lessen their presence.

This study explored the narratives of 23 African-American faculty members to determine if race still matters in nursing.

A narrative approach grounded in social constructionism and critical race theory was used to illustrate the journey of African-American faculty into and throughout academia and to reveal factors related to decisions to enter and remain in academia.

Most of the participants stated that they faced racial discrimination that tested their resilience and reinforced their commitment to the academy.

Intentional actions and open discourse could strengthen institutional commitments to racial diversity and facilitate the recruitment and retention of racially diverse nursing faculties.