The Impact of Allyship on Minoritized Patients and Providers in Palliative Practice

Many minoritized patients experience discrimination in health care. The same is true for minoritized health care clinicians, including the advanced practice registered nurse (APRN). Specifically, Black Americans have historically and disproportionally been privy to both structural racism and interpersonal racial discrimination (J Subst Abuse Treat 2022;133:108551). For patients, such exposure is associated with physical and mental health consequences, including hypertension, obesity, depression, anxiety, psychological distress, and mortality (Health Serv Res 2019;54 suppl 2(suppl 2):1399-1408). For minoritized clinicians, the subsequent result of discrimination additionally includes poor job satisfaction, decreased productivity, and high turnover (JAMA Health Forum 2023;4(12):e235249). Allyship, the act of supporting minoritized individuals while not being a member of that group, is potentially useful in improving the practice experience of minoritized APRNs, as well as positively impacting minoritized patients' outcomes. This article aims to provide actionable and practical skills for the APRN to create safe spaces for minoritized patients and partners in palliative practice. Explicitly, the role of the palliative care APRN as an ally will be reviewed as well as guidance on how to implement changes that will affect the health care experience for both patients and clinicians.