Building a stronger nursing workforce isn't just about increasing the number of nurses. For Dr. Katie Boston-Leary, it's also about ensuring the profession reflects the communities it serves.
During a conversation with the Black Information Network at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's Annual Legislative Conference, the American Nurses Association's Senior Vice President of Equity and Engagement discussed workforce shortages, diversity and creating a healthcare system centered on patients.
Boston-Leary stressed the importance of nurses using their voices beyond the healthcare setting, including through civic engagement and voting at the local, state and federal levels. Nurses are the largest group of healthcare professionals in the country, giving them a significant voice in shaping healthcare policy.
She also addressed persistent staffing shortages, arguing that inadequate staffing can create unsafe environments for patients while contributing to burnout and moral distress among nurses. ANA has similarly identified appropriate staffing as critical to patient outcomes and nurses' well-being.
Boston-Leary also emphasized the importance of diversity and cultural understanding in patient care. She recalled an instance where a Black patient's hair-maintenance routine was misunderstood by white hospital staff as a sign of psychosis until a Black nurse recognized what the patient was doing.
To build a nursing workforce that better reflects the population it serves, Boston-Leary called for addressing the institutional and financial barriers that can prevent people of color from completing nursing programs. She highlighted the need for greater support and flexibility for students balancing their education with work and family responsibilities.
Boston-Leary also called for nurses to have a greater role in shaping healthcare technology and stressed the importance of creating a workforce where nurses can care for their own well-being while caring for others.
Listen to the full conversation below!
For more of our interviews from the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s 55th Annual Legislative Conference, check out Our Voices!
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