SNAH Equity and Inclusion
(Teaneck, NJ) October 12, 2023—The Henry P. Becton School of Nursing and Allied Health (a division of FDU Health) has received the 2023 Health Professions Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education.
As a recipient of the annual Health Professions HEED Award — a national honor recognizing U.S. health colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion — FDU will be featured, along with 63 other nationally representing recipients, in the November/December 2023 issue of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine.
Major goals in healthcare are to provide care that is sensitive to the needs and experiences of diverse populations and to eliminate disparities in health outcomes. Equity and inclusion in healthcare refers to the practice of recognizing and valuing differences among patients and healthcare professionals and creating an environment that is inclusive and respectful of all individuals, regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, age, or other characteristics. By fostering equity and inclusion, healthcare organizations can improve patient outcomes, enhance patient satisfaction, and create a more equitable and just healthcare system for all.
In order to achieve equity and inclusion in healthcare, healthcare education must embrace parallel values. Equity and inclusion in healthcare education necessitates intentional efforts made to ensure that the curriculum, teaching methods, and learning environment in healthcare education programs are inclusive of a wide range of perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds. This calls for incorporation of broad range of case studies, having diverse role models, providing training on bias awareness, and much more. The goal of equity and inclusion in healthcare education is to develop cultural sensitivity among future healthcare professionals so that they are aware and accepting of cultural differences, withhold judgment of cross-cultural practices, and deal effectively with these differences. Culturally sensitive providers are prepared to provide equitable care to diverse patient populations. By promoting cultural sensitivity in healthcare education, students develop the skills and knowledge needed to provide culturally sensitive care and help reduce health disparities. Additionally, a diverse and inclusive healthcare workforce can better understand the communities they serve, foster access to care, and improve overall quality of care.
The School of Nursing and Allied Health uses many resources to reach toward the goal of having healthcare education programs that are inclusive of a wide range of perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds and that we confront individual and systematic bias.
Hispanic Serving Institution
FDU is a recognized member of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities and has been designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI). HSI’s are defined in Title V of the Higher Education Act as not-for-profit institutions of higher learning with a full-time equivalent (FTE) undergraduate student enrollment that is at least 25 percent Hispanic. The federal definition can be found here: www2.ed.gov/print/programs/idueshsi/definition.html.
Commitment Statement
The School of Nursing and Allied Health embraces FDU’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Commitment Statement:
Fundamental to its mission, vision, and core values, FDU is committed to creating and nurturing a diverse, equitable, and inclusive campus environment that fosters mutual respect and understanding among students, faculty, staff, administration, and alumni.
FDU embraces a culture of open mindedness, diversity of thought, and cultural expression. The University encourages multiple perspectives to enrich the educational experience for the University community. FDU emphasizes understanding cultural experiences and perspectives by cultivating respectful communication among members of the FDU community.
The University is focused on ensuring that students, faculty, staff, administration, and alumni thrive personally and professionally in a global environment in order to challenge and reject racial divisiveness, prejudice, systemic privilege, and oppression. To this end, FDU does not tolerate discrimination or bias based on race, religion, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, sex, ability status, age, nationality, and socioeconomic class.
Organizational Websites that Support Our Goals
Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities
CUMU Home Page w/links to resources
Announcement of FDU’s membership in CUMU
Diverse Issues in Higher Education
Diverse Issues in Higher Education Homepage
Inside Higher Education
What the Supreme Court Rejection of Affirmative Action Means
American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)
Making the Case for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Nursing Education (pdf)
Fact Sheet: Enhancing Diversity in the Nursing Workforce (pdf)
Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action
Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action Homepage
National Commission to Address Racism in Nursing
National Commission to Address Racism in Nursing
National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF)
NONPF Reaffirms Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity in Nurse Practitioner Education
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