Jennifer Papapavlou BSN RN CCRN

Racism, Implicit Bias, and Theory Failure in Nursing: How Cultural Competence Cloaks and Perpetuates Systemic Racism, Yielding Room for Improvement in Patient Outcomes and in the Profession

Tags: bias culture Systemic Racism theories

This article discusses how cultural competence and diversity impact nursing, highlighting the continued lack of equity in research, patient outcomes, and the profession itself. It argues that the Theory of Culture Care Diversity and Universality, developed over 30 years ago to promote cultural awareness in nursing, is outdated and fails to address issues of racism, systemic racism, marginalization, and inherent bias. The author calls for nursing theory to evolve and address these issues head-on, and for the voices and experiences of minorities and marginalized groups to be incorporated into nursing education and research to promote equitable care for all.