EDI Policy Workshop
16th Jul 2024
The journey to writing an equality, diversity and inclusion policy for the British Association of Critical Care Nurses started in early 2023 with a position statement facilitated by Prof Calvin Moorley: "Social justice in critical care nursing: Towards a position statement. Nursing in Critical Care, 27(5), pp.623-624". 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. We must acknowledge their intersecting characteristics (multiple factors that disadvantage a person such as race, age, sex, gender, language, and/or ability).
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 work patterns, staffing and on an individual basis skills, knowledge and tools to provide fair and inclusive care for all.
We aim to take a collaborative approach and work with BACCN members, other healthcare professionals, patients and the public, policymakers and industry leaders to foster diversity, inclusivity, and equity and extinguish areas that preserve negative behaviours leading to stigma, and stereotypes that can be harmful. As a commitment, we want to review all our practices and policies to reduce social injustice, promote national policy approaches which reduce health inequalities, and address social factors of health and other issues that impact patients' and nurses’ ability to thrive.
We have created a specific national board role filled by Nicole Lee ((Engagement Lead) to take this forward especially in the wake of the recent NMC Independent Culture Review (2024). It is vital that we as an organisation move beyond a position statement to deliver a meaningful strategy through structures, processes, skills, and feedback loops which ultimately underpin a positive, empowering culture within not just the association but for all Critical Care Nurses.
Please register to join us on the day and make your voice heard, HERE
