Nursing association puts forward recommendations to combat anti-Black racism in industry
The Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO) has been examining anti-Black discrimination in the profession and recently announced 19 recommendations it hopes will improve the situation for nurses and the health-care system.
The RNAO put together the Black Nurses Task Force in June 2020, in the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder. RNAO CEO Doris Grinspun says they felt driven as an organization to do something — and believed action should start within their own group.
On Tuesday they put forward their list of recommendations, chief among them equitable and fair placements for all Black nurses. Task Force Co-Chair Corsita Garraway says a disproportionate number are placed in long-term care or doing the work of personal support workers for example, preventing from getting experience in other, more specialized areas.
Another recommendation — more mentorship for Black nurses to help them reach more leadership positions.
“I have attended three different universities - one in Newfoundland, one in Manitoba and Toronto,” RNAO past president Angela Cooper Brathwaite said. “And I have never had a Black professor in any of my courses.”
The RNAO wants to advocate for diversity in leadership and education roles in nursing, as well as more mental health supports for Black nurses.
“It causes so much trauma and nurses jobs are stressful without the addition of having your peers and supervisors being racist towards you,” Cooper Brathwaite said.
She and others recall being questioned about their curly hair, their accent and their place of birth in the course of their nursing education and work. They say discriminatory behaviour hasn’t changed much. Many Black nurses told the task force about losing out on promotions, job opportunities and interviews because of discrimination.
The task force is calling for “zero tolerance” of anti-Black racism in nursing and are planning to become an advisory committee in order to follow up on its recommendations.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Slovakia's populist prime minister shot in assassination attempt, shocking Europe before elections
The Slovak defence minister says doctors are fighting for the life of the country's prime minister, who was shot multiple times after a political event Wednesday afternoon.
Transport Canada's UFO 'lead' planned to meet with U.S. intel officials, called info requests a 'wild goose chase'
Canada's transportation department had a UFO 'lead' who tried to 'quell' media interest and planned to meet with U.S. intelligence officials.
'Very expensive lunch': Sask. driver handed a cell phone ticket for using points app in McDonald's drive-thru
A warning from a Saskatoon driver about using your fast-food app while in the drive-thru line — a trip to get some free lunch cost him a lot more than he bargained for.
'The Fly' has become notorious in France after a brazen escape. What's his criminal history?
A prisoner nicknamed “The Fly” has become notorious in France overnight after a daring and bloody escape from a prison convoy in Normandy that left two guards dead.
BREAKING Ontario's 'crypto king' Aiden Pleterski arrested
Aiden Pleterski, the self-proclaimed 'crypto king' from Whitby, Ont., has been arrested in Durham Region after allegedly running a Ponzi scheme worth more than $40 million.
BREAKING Barge hits a bridge in Texas, damaging the structure and causing an oil spill
A barge slammed into a bridge pillar in Galveston, Texas, on Wednesday, spilling oil into surrounding waters and closing the only road to a smaller and separate island that is home to a university, officials said. There were no immediate reports of injuries.
Person responsible for 1996 drugging of 'Titanic' crew likely not a local: Halifax police
Halifax Regional Police believe a non-resident could be responsible for the infamous drugging of numerous crew members of the 'Titanic' movie with a hallucinogenic in 1996.
Latest updates on the biggest wildfires burning in Canada
Thousands of people in Western Canada remain displaced from their homes as wildfires threaten their communities, triggering evacuation orders and alerts.
OPINION If you think you can’t focus for long, you’re right: Sandee LaMotte
Regaining your focus requires you to be mindful of how you are using technology -- a daunting task if you consider the average American spends at least 10 hours a day on screens.