“Social justice is a dream”: Tensions and contradictions in nursing education

Objective The purpose of this study was to explore nurse educators’ conceptualizations of social justice in theory courses. The findings contextualize the role of nurse educators in promoting social justice among future health care providers and the relevance of their perspectives on social justice....

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Public health Nursing 2019-09, Vol.36 (5), p.735-743
Main Authors: Valderama‐Wallace, Claire P., Apesoa‐Varano, Ester Carolina
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
colonialism
Education
Education, Nursing - methods
Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate
equality
faculty of color
Faculty, Nursing - statistics & numerical data
Female
health equity
Humans
Male
Measurement methods
Middle Aged
Nurses
Nursing
Nursing education
Public health
Qualitative Research
Sampling methods
Social justice
Social Justice - psychology
Social Justice - statistics & numerical data
Students, Nursing - statistics & numerical data
Teachers
United States
whiteness
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Summary:Objective The purpose of this study was to explore nurse educators’ conceptualizations of social justice in theory courses. The findings contextualize the role of nurse educators in promoting social justice among future health care providers and the relevance of their perspectives on social justice. Design This descriptive qualitative study was completed utilizing constructivist grounded theory methods. Sample and Measurements I interviewed 28 nurse educators teaching theory courses in Baccalaureate nursing programs on the West coast of the United States. Initial and focused codes were constructed from interview transcripts to understand and contextualize statements about social justice. Results Participants’ conceptualizations of social justice include equity, equality, self‐awareness, withholding judgment, and taking action. Conclusions Notable differences emerged along racial lines and, less so, in relation to educational background and nursing specialty. This study highlights areas of concern with respect to how nurse educators enact the claim that social justice is a core professional nursing value. The findings call attention to tensions and contradictions as individuals navigate the landscape of nursing with limited structural and institutional effort.
ISSN:0737-1209
1525-1446
DOI:10.1111/phn.12630