Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Competencies for a Graduate Nursing Program

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Healthcare Equity

Background:

• Integrating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) into curricula is crucial for advanced-practice nurses.
• Effective DEI integration prepares nurses for person-centered care delivery.
• This article details the design and evaluation of faculty-developed DEI competencies for graduate nursing students.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and evaluate institutional DEI competencies for graduate nursing students.
• To enhance the preparation of advanced-practice nurses in delivering person-centered care.
• To address embedded structural inequalities within the healthcare system.

Main Methods:

• A modified Delphi approach was used by a faculty and content expert task force.
• Methods included a literature review and a faculty survey.
• The focus was on developing DEI-specific competencies for advanced nursing education.

Main Results:

• Faculty-led DEI curricular competencies were created for graduate nursing programs.
• The competencies include an overview, three domains, and eight key elements.
• A glossary defining nine essential DEI terms was also developed.

Conclusions:

• Developing DEI competencies for graduate nursing programs is achievable.
• These competencies are vital for equipping future nurses with skills to combat healthcare disparities.
• This initiative supports the preparation of nurses to address systemic inequalities in healthcare.