Feedback

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Each week we invited participants to give us feedback on the experience in the “Overdue Reckoning on Racism in Nursing” session for that week. Below are the results for each week.

October 10, 2020 Feedback

Number of participants: 103

What I appreciated the most is . . .

The sharing of experiences and acknowledgement of my experience by others.
the space to share and feel validated.
The vulnerability of those who spoke.
The stories!
Being reaffirmed that speaking up and speaking out is a space to value and keep fighting to use our voice wherever we are
Sharing stories. Now I don’t feel so alone. Also the resources
The honesty, raw emotion, and thoughtful respect
just listening
Lucinda sharing her experiences
it was the safe space, very respective for everyone.
The opportunity to gain greater understanding of challenges I have not had to face
How this was an open discussion and made racism in the workplace not an uncommon thing to experience. The discussion and platform allowed a safe space for people to share their stories and experiences, while also bringing awareness to an important issue that happens in the workplace.
openness and stories shared. Lucinda, I would like to commend you on such a wonderful gift of how you listened and then brought the point/message to what the speaker was saying.
The abiility to speak open and honestly about what is happening in education and the workplace. I appreciate the diversity with the nurses of color and the participation of the white nurses. It has been a beautiful experience.
As a white woman, it is very important to listen to the experiences shared.
I appreciated hearing the stories, the struggle, and the successes that people brought to this circle.
Having had this space to listen to the stories of others, and reflection on my own history and goals moving forward
Being a part of a safe space for nurses of colour to share stories and provide mutual support
Definitely feels amazing to not feel alone. “To research is a caring act.”- Van Manen 😉
the resources given
Hearing others stories.
Having a safe space to have an important discussion
The vulnerability and courage of the speakers in sharing their experiences

This made me uncomfortable . . .

NOTHING!!!
For me it feels like trauma is revisited and it hurts. But it is also cathartic.
The reflection that I may think that I am more ‘woke’ than I really am.
The stories of BIPOC nurses experiencing racism in nursing at all levels are extremely important in understanding the violence, the disrespect, the emotions etc… they experience in our culture. SO VERY POWERFUL. I appreciate it all! Thank you… will keep working at this and I hope to be able to respond like Peggy Chinn did in that experience. Thank you for sharing all the stories.
in a way because this was a forum for Nurses of color to speak and other nurses listened in. I have not experienced White nurses talk about how they practice racism and for me to listen in on that kind of conversation has not occurred. I did not experience bein uncomfortable for the meetings I was able to attend yet I do think that the conversation and stories may be different if this was different. Please do not misinterpret my inquiry, I appreciated this gathering.
Nothing made me uncomfortable; good to get it out and hear from others
Just sad that racism is still so prevalent
good discomfort
Knowing I could have done more
cannot think of it at this moment.
Continued exploration of my own prior complicity
This session made me more aware about potential racism that can happen when I become a nurse and start working (as I am currently a student nurse). This discussion made me more conscious of people’s experiences and provides a take-away of what to look for (potential red flags and racism) in the workplace and how to possibly address them.
n/a
nothing made me uncomfortable. I embraced it all.
It was hard to relive some of the traumas we’ve shared in the circle. So many brave women of colour sharing really difficult situations they had been in.
N/A Everyone respected each other and definitely yielded floor.
telling the white faculty in my department about the resources and teaching our students about racism and how this can support their interest in more diversity and equity in nursing.
It was hard to hear the suffering of other black nurses and women of color.Talking to white nurses about my experiences
I did not feel uncomfortable – I felt enriched and blessed

For future discussions, I recommend . . .

Not sure yet…
Talking about resiliency. Where do we go from here. Maybe how to create programs to implement this on a wider scale.
Looking at school policies that support racism, ways to support colleagues/students of color,
Continue and keep this going.
a plan; curricular and policy change
more of this
Letting white nurses share
to discuss what we can do (as a white ally, as a person of color)
Sexism in nursing
continuation– still so much to dissect. Action workshops.
Small groups.
Nothing – i think that the organic nature of this is beautiful.
perhaps a series where we digest and discuss particular anti-racist readings so we can mobilize the key concepts in our practice and education
Bring in more academics, they came and didn’t come again this week. How to keep them on?
To revisit the discussion in the future to see how others have implement change in their workplace or university.
Celebrations in spite of the pain.
This was a great forum and my only regret is that I missed the others!

Is there something else?

Nope – this was PHENOMENAL!
thank you for being so intentional in developing a spacious/ gracious space so that people can become vulnerable with each other and learn from each other. I do think that the white participants might also share in what has helped in their journey, where they have found meaning. It was good to hear from the BIPOC participants about good things that happened as a road map to some behaviors we can all develop, e.g. Peggy’s stopping the conversation and saying “I will be addressing this” — or addressing the racist language of the doctor, but not needing to put the black nurse in the middle.
Not at this time.
Thank you
please feel our love
Thank you so much for creating safe space.
I appreciate this discussion and I learned a lot through hearing others’ stories and the advice being given. This was a wonderful discussion and I really look forward to future discussions with you all! Thank you!
Wonderful platform. I feel so lucky to have participated. i am further charged and thankful.
This has been beautiful. Thank you!
A huge thank you for putting this together, and to everyone who spoke up with their stories.
God bless you!!!
Thank you so much for putting on this series
This format / virtual forum is good. I prefer Zoom
No
I want to express my gratitude to everyone who contributed and to Dr. Peggy Chinn

October 3, 2020 Feedback Survey

Number of participants: 120

What I appreciated the most is . . .

Listening to strategies employed to help reduce racism in academia.
The courage of many to share their personal stories
Honest critiques of white faculty members’ behavior

This made me uncomfortable . . .

Saddened to hear the lack of support that sometimes occurs among nurses of color.
Hearing painful experiences
I have unintentionally done harm by not speaking at times

For future discussions, I recommend . . .

Continuing to remind white people to yield the floor and just listen. As a white woman in a tenured faculty position, I must continue to make space for others and this is an excellent example.

Is there something else?

Thank you for allowing white people to join in this experience as learners. It is very generous of so many to share their stories. We must do better.

September 26, 2020 Feedback Survey

Number of participants: 110

What I appreciated the most is:

The students who were willing to share their stories and experiences.
Hearing student experiences

This made me uncomfortable:

Honestly, just how deeply and systemically f***ed up the heathcare system is.

For future discussions I recommend: (No responses)

Is there something else? (No responses)

September 19, 2020 Feedback Survey Summary

Number of participants: 131

Did you gain new insights about nursing? (0=No; 5=Definitely)

Do you think you will do anything different to address racism after our discussion? (0=Still need to think about it; 5=Definitely

What I appreciated the most is:

The conversation space
The stories shared by others.
Sharing of experiences and candid discussion
My chance to share my experience
the space (as a white woman/nurse and academic) to listen to the voices and experiences of BIPOC nurses.
The safe space to discuss these issues.
The open discussion and acknowledgement from white nurses that they have contributed to the continued racism. The committment from these nurses to speak and take action was inspiring.
Hearing from the younger nurses currently training new nurses
Conversation on nursing history and education related to AA.
Story sharing of lived experience, lessons learned and most encouraging, people saying “we’re not accepting this anymore and speaking up.” Provides courage and safe learning environment.
I’m grateful for the frankness that people give while sharing their stories.

This made me uncomfortable . . .

Nothing
non-poc folks need to stop doing the work on health needs of BIPOC. I’m not disagreeing, I’m just questioning how I approach my work
nothing–was great
Nothing made me feel discomfort
How much we as educators are still getting wrong and that those things are reinforced in our text books and NCLEX.
I am uncomfortable about how uninformed I am!
I am not uncomfortable with the topic
My personal fear of standing up to racism. I wish I weren’t so afraid, but I am.

For future discussions, I recommend . . .

Small groups
Strategies to influence organizational culture, and importance of remaining aware of the ESSENTIALS written by AACN or ANA, who is selected to represent nursing in places with HRSA / DHS / Public Health
obviously student experiences and academia are of importance, drawing and retaining BIPOC faculty. How can I make sure they feel supported?
I would love to get a list of the resources that we’re shared in the discussion and the chat
Please continue to center us with the beautiful art, poems, land acknowledgement
task force for educational reform
Continue to have the discussion.

Is there something else?

Is there any way to know the age ranges of the folks on the call? Would love to know if others my age were there. I did have an issue at the beginning so I joined at about the 10 minute mark (my issue, not an issue with Zoom), so I wasn’t sure if there was a poll or anything. I felt like many of the nurses with 30+ years of experience spoke, and I value their input but I wondered if there were any other millennials that could speak to their experience. Also, I am not sure if I will be able to join any more of these calls, but I wanted to share my response to today’s prompt and next week’s about nursing students. Accountability: as a black nurse, I felt like I saw some accountability when my organization, Nurse-Family Partnership, issued a statement in support of the black community after the death of George Floyd. I felt like the statement was a long time coming, but it was at least a place to start in recognizing and fighting racism. The acknowledgement of the struggle was very much appreciated. Nursing students. I just wanted to share my experience as a black nursing student. I graduated the top of my nursing class at Temple University, and yet when I was choosing my final clinical placement, my instructor personally called me and told me why I did not get my top choice for placement. She told me she didn’t think my clinical skills were strong enough to do a public health nursing placement for my final semester. Well, joke was on them because I have never worked in a hospital, I have only worked with Nurse-Family Partnership my entire nursing career which is a community nursing program. Although, maybe my clinical skills were not the best since I had no desire to work in a hospital, I still wonder if any other top students were questioned like I was. My last experience I wanted to share was when I was a high school student, I shared with our school nurse that I would like to be a nurse some day. She immediately said oh good you would be able to get a job with no issues because the south needs more black nurses. She didn’t seem to intend to do any harm with her statement, but it sure stuck with me for a long time that I may not be judged by my brains but by the color of my skin. Even when I graduated the top of my nursing class, I wondered if anyone thought I had achieved it just because I was black Thank you for allowing me to share my stories.
I am so proud of those who came up with the idea for this meeting. I am so impressed by the participants. I will join in next week!
I’m sorry to have missed session #1 and look forward to the next two.
Engagement strategies to promote info shared by these group meetings
Thank you for having the discussion
Excellent facilitation.

September 12, 2020 Feedback Survey Summary

Number of participants: 122

What I appreciated the most is …. (10 responses)

Having an opportunity to listen to the stories
Sad but true. Same stories, different cities
The sharing of stories
This conversation
Having a space where people feel safe to freely share their experiences so that I can better understand their experiences.
The bravery, integrity and truth speaking of those who spoke
The available space for nurses of color to speak and for white nurses to listen
Tackling this subject head on
The authentic stories shared by nurses who had lived it, and the space created to share & discuss them
Racism has continued to be an issue for years.

This made me uncomfortable . . .(9 responses)

I recognize I have a lot to unpack and understand
Nothing really, but gave me more confidence to speak up when I feel racial stress and not avoid it.
being antiracist – I’m learning how- also taking a course called Living in Empathy
because I related to it. Although I am white, I have a physical disability and have had many bad experiences related to being ‘different’ and trying to combat narratives people associate with being disabled.
The “performative” comment. Racism is performative.
Yeah…Good Trouble. I’m pissed that scholars in doctorate programs steered Black nurses from dissertations on racism to the cultural diversity. Erg. Be braver in sharing thoughts in comments.
the distress past and present
White nurses sharing stories of witnessing racism, without discussing or owning any obligation to have taken action at those moments. It felt like asking the moderators to do emotional labor, reassuring them while listening to stories of witnesses violence, without necessarily adding anything substantial to the discussion
It needs to explored more openly.

For future discussions, I recommend . . .8 responses

How do white nurses become anti racist
Talking more about how Black and Brown faculty navigate academia.
continuing to hear about what everyone, including privileged people, can do to try to ‘change the system’.
A list made of the amazing resources people were mentioning? Turning off incoming guests to the zoom.
An racism awareness curriculum for schools of nursing.
perhaps time limits for comments and speakers so more can speak; also guided questions for reflection; opportunity to share action steps being taken in some schools
None at this time
Allow more people to voice their experiences.

Is there something else? (9 responses)

Opportunity to listen deeply and “nurture an authentic anti-racist awareness to help inspire action“….. – thank you for providing this space to just be and fully honor the stories. Looking forward to next time!
Enjoyed the session very much
Would enjoy sharing in smaller groups if possible, putting us maybe in breakout rooms.
Thank you so very much. As a white nurse, I must do more.
I learned a lot from this session. It was very eye opening and I think just understanding the many forms of racism, even small things, so that people can get a better understanding of all levels of racism and what is considered to be racist.
Thank you so much for this forum. It was profound and emotional for me.
Thank you, thank you, thank you! Big hug
consider history of nursing and its being influenced by the male-dominated, white patriarchal medical model — ontology and epistemology of nursing, nursing philosophy history based on male Western philosophical traditions …intersection of abolition and feminism and what went wrong there in US
The forum should be more interactive. There were many in the chat who voiced opinions.