The 2023-2024 National Commission to Address Racism in Nursing Welcomes New Commission Members
CONTACT:
Keziah Proctor, keziah.proctor@ana.org
SILVER SPRING, MD – Today, the National Commission to Address Racism in Nursing (the Commission), announces a new composition of members to continue the critical work of confronting individual and systemic racism within nursing nationwide, focusing on the impact on nurses, patients, communities, and health care systems. The Commission members will help move forward the recommendations of the inaugural Commission and work to provide resources. The Commission members comprise both individual subject matter experts and leaders from participating nursing organizations. Their collective roles were established to provide guidance and help inform all major decisions of the Commission.
The Commission members:
- Kupiri Ackerman-Barger, PhD, RN, CNE, FAAN, Individual Commissioner
- Jackeline Biddle Richard, DNP, JD, RN, CNE, Society of Latinx Nurses
- Kenya Beard, EdD, CNE, AGACNP-BC, ANEF, FAAN, Individual Commissioner
- Taloa Birdshead, RN, National Alaska Native American Indian Nurses Association
- Lucinda Canty, PhD, CNM, FACNM, Individual Commissioner
- Brigit M. Carter, PhD, RN, CCRN, FAAN, American Association of Colleges of Nursing
- Kahlil Demonbreun, DNP, RNC-OB, WHNP-BC, ANP-BC, FAANP, FAAN, Individual Commissioner
- Jeff Doucette, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, FACHE, FAAN, Press Ganey
- Marie O. Etienne, DNP, APRN, FNP, PNP, PLNC, Haitian Alliance Nurses Association International
- Laura Fennimore, DNP, RN, Individual Commissioner
- Nicole George, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, Press Ganey
- Marcus Henderson, MSN, RN, Individual Commissioner
- Jacqueline Herd, MSN, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, FACHE, American Organization of Nursing Leadership
- Kechinyere Iheduru-Anderson, DNP, RN, Individual Commissioner
- Kim Kim, MSN, RN, CDCES, Individual Commissioner
- Carl Kirton DNP, MBA, RN, International Academy of Nursing Editors / Editor-in-Chief, American Journal of Nursing
- Lourdes Moldre, MSN, BSN, RN, ACNP-BC, Individual Commissioner
- Kathleen Poindexter, PhD, RN, CNE, ANEF, National League for Nursing
- Kim Regis DNP, RN, NEA-BC, CPNP-PC, BCC, American Association of Ambulatory Care Nursing
- Susan Reinhard, PhD, RN, FAAN, AARP/ Center to Champion Nursing in America
- Deborah A. Ryan, MSN, RN, The Joint Commission
- Cynthia Samuel, PhD, RN, CSN-NJ, Individual Commissioner
- Josephine H. Silvestre, MSN, RN, National Council of State Boards of Nursing
- Blake Smith, MSN, RN, Individual Commissioner
- Ekta Srinivasa, PhD, MSN, Individual Commissioner
- Marisa Streelman, DNP, RN, CMSRN, NE-BC, Academy of Medical-Surgical Nursing
- Asma Taha, PhD, CPNP-PC/AC, Individual Commissioner
- Roy Thompson, PhD, MSN, BSN, RN, CCN, Individual Commissioner
- Julia Ugorji, DNP, MSN-Ed, RN, National Association of Nigerian Nurses in North America
- Anna Valdez, PhD, RN, FAEN, FAADN, Individual Commissioner
The Commission first launched in January 2021 with the goal of examining the issue of racism in nursing nationwide and its impact. For that reason, the Commission launched a national survey of more than 5,600 nurses and the data exposed racism in nursing as a dire problem:
- 63% of nurses surveyed say that they have personally experienced an act of racism in the workplace with the transgressors being either a peer (66%), patients (63%), or a manager or supervisor (60%).
- Over ½ of nurses say racism in the workplace has impacted their professional well-being.
The new Commissioners represent a broad continuum of nursing practice, ethnically diverse groups, and regions across the country. It is led by the American Nurses Association (ANA), National Black Nurses Association (NBNA), National Coalition of Ethnic Minority Nurse Associations (NCEMNA), and National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN). This new Commission will continue to be led by leaders representing the four co-lead organizations: ANA immediate past president, Ernest J. Grant, PhD, RN, FAAN; NAHN President, Adrianna Nava, PhD, MPA, MSN, RN; NBNA president, Martha Dawson, DNP, RN, FACHE; NCEMNA President, Debra A. Toney, PhD, RN, FAAN; NCEMNA Vice President, Angie Millan, DNP, RN, FAAN; At-large member, Daniela Vargas, MSN, MPH, MA- Bioethics, RN, PHN; and ANA Enterprise Senior Inclusion Advisor, G. Rumay Alexander, EdD, RN, FAAN.
###
About the National Commission to Address Racism in Nursing
The National Commission to Address Racism in Nursing (the Commission) examines the persistent problem of racism within nursing and describes the impact on nurses, patients, communities, and health care systems to motivate all nurses to confront systemic racism. The work is urgent to create safe and liberating environments for all nurses as well as profession that exemplifies inclusivity, diversity, and equity. The Commission is comprised of leading nursing organizations that represent a broad continuum of nursing practice, ethnically diverse groups, nationally and in regions across the country and who have for years raised their individual voices to condemn all forms of racism within our society.