In February, RNAO marked Black History Month at its 26th annual Queen’s Park Day in Toronto, releasing the best practice guideline (BPG), Addressing Anti-Black Racism in Nursing (AABR).

BPG co-chair Dr. Bukola Oladunni Salami, a nursing professor at the University of Alberta, was one of four speakers at the Queen’s Park media studio for the unveiling. She commended RNAO, the BPG expert panel of 18 Black nurses and Black nursing students, and all contributors for this historic work, acknowledging the world is full of anti-Black and anti-woke sentiment that can distract and sometimes silence important progress. Some people question whether racism exists, she suggested. But thanks to this tremendous work, there’s no disputing its existence anymore. 

Now, people know what to do. We have developed six recommendations.

Dr. Bukola Oladunni Salami

“People will now acknowledge that racism does exist and ask, ‘What do I do about this?’” she said. “I think the beautiful thing about this BPG is, now, you know what to do. We have developed six recommendations. You can create mentorship programs. You can promote Black nurses. You can develop a zero-tolerance policy. You can offer safe reporting systems. You can establish committees that include Black nurses. And you can provide education.”