Diversity Statement

Diversity and racial equality awareness has been an ever-changing lifelong experience for me. I was born into a privileged white family in a small town where diversity was lacking. Blatant racism was uncommon but not unheard of throughout my childhood, but internal bias and micro-aggressions were rampant. I was oblivious for the first half of my life to the benefits my privilege has afforded me, and very naïve when it came to my own internal biases. Going to a university, making meaningful relationships with people from other cultures, and educating myself through literature written by minorities or about white privilege was just scratching the surface of expanding my knowledge of other cultures. It wasn’t until I started traveling internationally and started pursuing a career in nursing that culture, bias, and racism became a focus in my life and career.

My RN program at Shoreline Community College was a very diverse cohort and we were a close-knit group. Hearing many perspectives on taking care of patients expanded my own narrow views tremendously. My takeaway was always to ask patients questions about their cultural needs and preferences throughout nursing school. I was often rewarded with trust, quality rapport, and an expanded viewpoint which led to an overall positive experience for both me and the patient.

I have had the pleasure of working as an oncology infusion nurse for my entire career. Cancer treatment is terrifying for most people and for many the basic comforts of home, including spiritual rituals, special foods, or having some control over their routine can make a huge difference. Keeping an open mind, encouraging patients to request things that may aid in their physical or emotional comfort, clear communication which includes making sure there is an interpreter present, and maintaining awareness of personal bias is vital to quality patient care. Communicating patient preferences to other team members can help breed a culture of respect for patient diversity within the team and increase patient satisfaction. It is also important to utilize technology resources to improve communication for all patients.

I know I will be a lifelong learner when it comes to racism, culture, and diversity. I will also be an advocate, a fighter, and a protector of rights for my patients and coworkers.