The Lived Experience of Teaching About Race in Cultural Nursing Education

Purpose: Some nursing scholars assert that race and racism require a more explicit focus in cultural nursing education if the profession is to positively impact health care disparities. This study explored what White BSN cultural educators think, believe, and teach about race, racism, and antiracism. Method: Phenomenological methods were used to analyze interview data from 10 White BSN faculty members who taught cultural content. Findings: Four themes were identified: living and learning in White spaces, a personal journey toward antiracism, values transformed through personal relationship, and race at the margins. Discussion/Conclusions: Whiteness obscured the participants' understanding and teaching of race; White nursing faculty were not well prepared to teach about race and racism; learning about these topics occurs best over time and through personal relationships. Implications: Faculty development regarding race and racism is needed to facilitate student, curricular, and institutional change.