What if…you embrace diversity

I am continuing a series for our newsletter to include a leadership topic along with passing along news in the nursing community. I want to focus on the positive in nursing and leadership. Subscribe to receive notification when our newsletter comes out. I publish twice a month.

Okay. Before you roll your eyes and type furiously in the comments that you are tired of DEI and whatever buzzword now triggers an angry response, take a deep breath, count to three, and exhale. Diversity is NOT a bad word. We only have to look at the animal and plant kingdoms to understand that diversity is a fact of life. For example, how many diverse types of cats are there in the world, from domestic felines to the mighty lion? How many distinct types of flowers, some poisonous and some edible? My point is that diversity is all around us and we don’t have to be afraid of it. Diversity can be a good thing.

Having diverse voices in the marketplace can help a company grow and meet the needs of the community. In an article on Harvard Business Review, it was noted, “Increasing diversity does not, by itself, increase effectiveness; what matters is how an organization harnesses diversity, and whether it’s willing to reshape its power structure.” Proverbs 11:14 (NIV) “For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisors.”

The article brings to mind the story of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. Each of the knights were considered equal and each had a voice. When you are thinking of diversity in your business, how do you define it? I’d like to think that the janitor’s voice is just as important as the CEO’s, in that the janitor, may have valuable insight into the workings of the company as the janitor may be away of how much product is being wasted or the mechanic can tell you how the machine is not working up to par, thereby slowing production. It is similar to upper management, including staff nurses in the executive meeting, because the further you get away from the bedside, the less likely you are aware of the day-to-day struggles of your staff. Diversity is not just ethnic diversity, gender diversity, or sexual orientation. Diversity includes differences in roles, cultural backgrounds, and socioeconomic status. What if you create your own round table in your business and embrace the diversity around you?

When you give space to diverse populations, it opens a chance for dialogue and mutual understanding. Would you agree that most nurses want to take care of their patients to the best of their ability? Would you agree that most nurses operate within the standard of care? So, if one nurse uses her unique knowledge of a patient’s culture to make modifications in her teaching on a diabetic diet, wouldn’t that serve the best interest of the patient? Rice and beans may be a prominent part of the diet in some cultures. When teaching the client about her diabetes, you take into consideration that rice may be a staple. How do you teach about counting carbs in a way that honors the person’s culture? I would advise you to have the rice in your meal, but if you do, you may want to skip the bread. You may want to include more vegetables in your meals to substitute adding more rice. Diversity, in this instance, is embracing the patient’s culture and adapting your approach to meet her needs. How can you embrace diversity in your business? What are the benefits you can see of having diverse voices at your table?

By the way, Happy Women’s History Month.

Nursing News

With the recent stories of healthcare related violence in the news, Indiana is looking to add additional protections for health care workers.

The Indiana Senate Committee voted in favor of SB 419, which expands protection to health care workers to make acts of violence and intimidation a felony. It provides that the offense of battery is a Level 6 felony if it is committed against a health care provider, and a Level 5 felony if it is committed against a health care provider by placing bodily fluids or waste on the health care provider. The bill has now been referred to the house.

About The Nurse Shark Academy

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