Advancing Equity and Justice in Academic Nursing Through Trauma-Informed Education Practice

Background: As educators and schools redouble their efforts to support and graduate a diverse and highly competent student body, there is an urgent need to adopt an academic framework to understand the effects of trauma on student learning, ground equity and justice in nursing education, and underpin policy development. Method: This article explicates the use of equity-centered trauma-informed education practice (TIEP) as a framework for examining, scrutinizing, and eliminating the influences and effects of racism, including explicit, implicit, systematic, and microaggressions, as well as inequitable approaches in practices, pedagogy, and policy. Results: Five key strategies were identified: (1) bias and antiracist work; (2) safety and trust; (3) culturally responsive pedagogy; (4) wellness and balance and (5) community-building. Conclusion: Transforming nursing education requires a paradigm shift, with changes occurring from an individual to a system level. TIEP ensures changes are equity-centered and justice-focused.