EDI Initiatives
The Faculty of Nursing recognizes a growing demand for social responsiveness and accountability within health sciences. We vow to identify and promote practices and principles that celebrate the strengths in difference and ensure equitable opportunities in employment, health sciences education and care delivery. Visit the sections below to learn more about how we are working to continually develop and improve in these critical areas.
Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Indigeneity
The Equity, Diversity, Inclusivity and Indigeneity (EDI-I) Committee promotes a high-level, consistent and reliably strong commitment to EDI-I and facilitates the implementation of the Faculty of Nursing’s vision and mission through initiatives that foster equity, diversity and inclusivity and Indigeneity. We will continue to promote health, equity and quality of life for the public good by creating vibrant and supportive environments, advancing health science and developing nurse leaders.
EDI-I Initiatives
- The Faculty of Nursing created and approved a new Global Health and Equity, Diversity and Inclusion course (INT D 420).
- The Faculty of Nursing is exploring placements in remote communities to increase our focus on rural health experiences where more Indigenous populations can be incorporated.
- We formed a strong partnership with the First Nations Inuit Health Branch — Alberta region, due largely to the significant role Nursing 323 and 433 community health nursing students had in the COVID-19 immunization clinics serving Indigenous communities and clients around the Edmonton area. Students worked with Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society and Maskwacis Health Services in the undergraduate program. In the graduate program, a nurse practitioner student was placed with Maskwacis Health Services in the winter 2022 term, and we are exploring several other Indigenous-focused placements for nurse practitioner students. The First Nations Inuit Health Branch has shared with us a desire to support more nursing students within their local programming and community partnership. We will continue to work with them to develop more opportunities for nursing students.
- The Ombuds Office held sessions for students/faculty regarding identifying unconscious biases and building personal strategies for coping in the health-care system.
- The Graduate Office is planning strategies to build awareness among faculty and students on unconscious biases and taking measures to decrease racism.
- We are working with the Transition Year Program (TYP) and have arranged to have a nursing graduate student in place to support nursing TYP students. The faculty is expanding this support to all Indigenous nursing students.
- We are reviewing policies through an EDI lens.
- The Undergraduate Office is working with the Registrar’s Office to increase the number of seats dedicated to Indigenous students.
- The faculty was purposeful at the faculty pinning ceremony, acknowledging the heritage of our Indigenous students, presenting special pins to Indigenous students and inviting an elder to attend.
- An Indigenous panel attended the faculty’s Professional Development day. The next day, the faculty discussed curriculum revisions based on what was mentioned during the panel session.
- The Nursing Advisory Selections Committee had special training for the Black Hire.
- The leadership team held an Indigenous Initiatives Strategic Planning retreat in January 2022 with Reagan Bartel, Director of Health, Metis Nation of Alberta.
- We developed the course INT D 222 with the Faculty of Native Studies.
Click on the links below to see various Institutional EDI initiatives at the Faculty of Nursing and the University of Alberta.