BACCN Statement on Social Justice

5th Jan 2023

Social justice makes the balance between societal advantages and problems more equitable. It involves evidencing this balance, through policy, governance, practice, and acting in a socio-political manner that demonstrates how we achieve this balance. In essence, social justice embraces the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and there is a need to prioritise DEI in critical care nursing regarding the treatment of patients acknowledging their intersecting characteristics (multiple factors that disadvantage a person such as race, age, sex, gender, language, ability) (Moorley 2022).

The BACCN is an inclusive organisation and realises that challenges exist for critical care nursing, its practice and education. To be inclusive in approaching how current and future nurses are taught, educated and supported to work in an unjust world, it is important to offer nurses sustainable skills, knowledge and tools to provide fair and inclusive care.

Our moral vision is to advocate for social justice by creating a broad awareness of the social injustice and biases that exist in critical care nursing and critical care provision. We will take a collaborative approach and work with BACCN members, other healthcare professionals, patients and public, policy makers and industry leaders to foster diversity, inclusivity, equity and extinguish areas that preserve negative behaviours leading to stigma, and stereotypes that can be harmful. As a commitment we will review all our practice and policies to reduce social injustice and promote national policy approaches which reduce health inequalities, address social factors of health and other issues that impact on patients and nurses’ ability to thrive.

Moorley, C., 2022. Social justice in critical care nursing: Towards a position statement. Nursing in Critical Care, 27(5), pp.623-624.

^{This statement has been developed by the BACCN in collaboration with:
Professor Calvin Moorley Chair of Diversity & Social Justice, London South Bank University, 
Lois Christie
Liz Curr Chair of the National Pensioners Convention (NPC) lgbtqi working party and lgbtqi advisor to the NPC/Royal College of Nursing
Elaine Manderson, Deputy Divisional Director of Nursing Planned Care/ Critical Care Lead Chelsea & Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Joanna O’Brien Lecturer Birmingham University
Professor Natalie Pattison, Professor of Clinical Nursing Chair UKCCNA Chair, 
Catherine Veschambre Critical Care Patient Advocate ICUSteps (Belfast),
Dr Rosetta J. West Senior Lecturer London South Bank University}
 

^{Moorley, C., 2022. Social justice in critical care nursing: Towards a position statement. Nursing in Critical Care, 27(5), pp.623-624}

^{January 2023 to be revised January 2025}