Embedding race equality into nursing programmes: Hearing the student voice

There is an abundance of evidence that nursing programmes across the UK have been criticised for not 'decolonising' their curriculum content to prepare students to partake in a diverse workplace. Nursing programmes have been developed in line with the requirements of the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) to deliver safe and effective care to patients, yet the literature records that Black and Minority Ethnic (BAME) nursing students face discrimination and experience a lack of role models in academia. In this article the term BAME will be used as it is recognised within a wide range of literature, however the authors wish to acknowledge that this term and other terms used when defining ethnicity is contested. In considering Stephen Lawrence Day, celebrated on the 22 nd April 2021 for the first time since his death in 1993, our students have embarked on a challenge to ensure that Race Equality is the first protected characteristic consideration in developing a 'Student Led Equality Charter' within the School of Health and Social Care at Staffordshire University. There is a commitment from colleagues at the School including senior leaders to further the wider University agenda to ensure equality, diversity and inclusion are embraced. 'At Staffordshire University we recognise the need to really focus on EDI in order to create an inclusive and welcoming environment for all our students, staff and visitors, and we hold ourselves accountable through our Access and Participation Plan, Inclusion Framework and Race Equality Action Plan. The work started by the students in Health and Social Care on an EDI Charter is a really good example of how working with our students as co-creators and partners will help to ensure inclusion throughout our university.' (Gill Grainger- Head of Equality and Diversity, Staffordshire University, March 2021).