NP Lhamo Dolkar

I have spent a lot of time lately thinking about equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI). About how important these concepts are, and how we, as nurses, cannot be bystanders when it comes to EDI and the pursuit of fairness and justice. Our country has never been more diverse in terms of the ethnicities, cultures and languages we see and hear all around us in our communities. The question is: What are we doing to ensure we reflect this in the care we provide and within our own profession?

Are we embracing these concepts when we see patients? Are we doing all we can to meet and be sensitive to people’s needs in the way they deserve? If the essence of our practice is to provide people-centred care, how are we doing this?

Achieving equity in health means confronting and eliminating the differences that we know are unfair and unjust, and making sure everyone is as healthy as possible. It means removing barriers that stand in the way of people’s access to care. And it means ensuring nurses and nursing students do not face obstacles or suffer stigma, discrimination or racism in their education or practice.

Health inequity can be tied to a wide range of social, economic, environmental and systemic factors. These include race, gender and gender identity, sexual orientation, income, education, religion, social status, and even our physical environment. RNAO’s work to address inequities is informed by the principles of EDI as well as human rights and public health evidence. From our action alerts and advocacy to the various awareness days we observe, participation in events such as Pride and our clinical work, RNAO has taken a leading role and remains focused on three equity deserving communities – Indigenous, Black and 2SLGBTQI+ communities – and the intersectionality between them.

We know the discrimination and racism people in the Black community face, including our members, and we are committed to addressing and tackling the systemic anti-Black racism that is so deeply ingrained in our profession and health system. Our groundbreaking report and recommendations by the Black Nurses Task Force – and the best practice guideline (BPG) set for release during Black History Month (February 2026) – are a testament to that.

Achieving equity in health means confronting and eliminating the differences that we know are unfair and unjust, and making sure everyone is as healthy as possible.

RNAO has a long history of working with and advocating alongside Indigenous communities. These collaborations are essential to addressing Indigenous health concerns and making progress on reconciliation. Using a Two-Eyed seeing approach, Indigenous Best Practice Spotlight Organizations® (BPSO®) are ensuring culturally safe spaces and appropriate access to care for Indigenous Peoples by weaving BPGs with Indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing.

We have also been steadfast in our commitment to advance equity for 2SLGBTQI+ nurses, other health workers and the community at large, even at a time when forces both south of the border and here at home threaten their very existence. That focus includes advocacy for safe, equitable and barrier-free care and improving the wellbeing and health-care experiences for 2SLGBTQI+ nurses and communities.

Given our essential and central role in the health system, we must ensure that we are committed to the principles of EDI. We need to advocate with and on behalf of patients and colleagues. These cannot be just words and promises. We need to back up our commitment with actions.

The former chair of RNAO’s Rainbow Nursing Interest Group – Dr. Shelley Evans – shared a simple but important gesture during an assembly meeting a few years back. She said she begins every patient encounter by declaring her pronouns. She explained that she does this to ensure that the person in front of her knows this is a safe space, and possibly the beginning of a conversation about appropriate care.

This is just one important example. I invite you to reflect on what you are doing in your own practice to embrace EDI.

Nurses have the privilege of interacting with patients, families and communities. If we want to provide more inclusive care, we should learn more about each other. Our world (nursing) is not far away from the discussions that are happening about EDI in the global or local sphere.

If you want more information about the areas of RNAO focus, please visit the In Focus section of our website where you will see the three priority communities of our work alongside the  important work of our interest groups – Black Nurses Leading Change, the Indigenous Nurses and Allies Interest Group, and the Rainbow Nursing Interest Group.

Let’s continue this conversation in the spirit of lifelong learning. I know we are proud Canadians, proud Ontarians and it is through pride and love for our country that we can ensure no one feels excluded.