Workshop: DEI Initiatives for Perioperative Nursing Workforce Development, Part 1

Editor's Note

Simone Auger, legislative assistant at the US House of Representative, representing the Competency and Credentialing Institute, Whitman Partners, and Edgewood College, began the workshop by offering the benefits of creating a diverse and inclusive environment for perioperative nursing, discussing topics including BIPOC, LGBTQ, and ageism issues as they relate to the OR.

She explained that the result of prioritizing DEI includes:

• Better care: Ensuring there is a staff member that meets all patients needs and can overcome various communication barriers. This holistic approach allows hospitals to become a multidimensional economic asset and creates better patient care outcomes.
• Happy workforce: With nurse shortages remaining a prevalent issue, creating a happy work environment is a necessity. Welcoming employees and accepting their authentic perspectives and establishing a setting of inclusiveness will encourage staff retention. Recruiting an inclusive workforce will facilitate stronger proposition for qualified candidates.
• Better problem solving: Diversity without inclusion is ineffective. Members must be given an equal voice to be a part of problem-solving processes. Bring unique individuals that come from different places will result in better problem-solving ability.
• Effective leadership: DEI [diversity, equity, and inclusion] must start at the top. Success starts with top management implementing resources, funding, and structure.

Respecting cultural barriers is a must, the panel said, which included panelists Kendall Carter, BSN, RN, director of surgical services at Boulder Community Health; Terrice Ferguson, BSN, RN, OR nurse manager at Providence Mission Hospital; and Tina Celifie at Henry Mayo Newhall. They urged leaders to not neglect to:

• take the time to respect and value their patients to provide the proper care
• look at their communities and demographics when hiring to properly reflect the communities they serve
• care enough to know for whom they are caring.

"When faced with cultural unacceptance, respond quickly," the panelists added.

This roundtable workshop also offered attendees the information, data, and tools to use when incorporating DEI components within teams of perioperative nurses to facilitate culturally compete care.