Racial Microaggressions in Nursing: A Scoping Review

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Healthcare Disparities
• Workplace Psychology

Background:

• A national survey indicates most US Registered Nurses (RNs) experience workplace racism from patients, colleagues, and leaders.
• Racial microaggressions, subtle forms of racism, negatively impact nurses' health, performance, and patient safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review literature on US nurses' workplace experiences with racial microaggressions.
• To identify the impact of these microaggressions on nurses and patient care.

Main Methods:

• A scoping review of PubMed and CINAHL databases was conducted.
• Included studies focused on nurses' workplace experiences with bias and discrimination in the US, from inception to November 2024.

Main Results:

• Eleven studies met inclusion criteria (7 qualitative, 3 quantitative, 1 mixed-methods).
• Themes included experiencing microaggressions, impacts on nurses (well-being, morale), responses, effects on patient care, and recommendations.
• Nurses of color faced racial microaggressions, including patient refusal of care, impacting their emotional resources and patient safety.

Conclusions:

• Racial microaggressions are prevalent in nursing workplaces, affecting nurses' well-being, job satisfaction, and patient care.
• Systemic approaches are crucial to address microaggressions and support a diverse nursing workforce during shortages.