A Schoolwide DEI Content Analysis Project

Background/Introduction: The Dean of our school commissioned a task force to assess content promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in our curricula. This content analysis was used to identify gaps related to DEI content throughout each program and to determine recommendations for curricular enhancements.

Purpose: Our guiding question was, to what extent is DEI content covered in our school of nursing programs?

Methods or Processes/Procedures: First, the task force performed a literature search to guide our analysis. Second, we compiled a list of DEI concepts from the HEED award guidelines. Second, we defined four levels of curricular integration. Third, we designed and deployed a faculty survey to report levels of integration for each DEI concept in their courses. Fourth, we summarized the data and created heat maps to demonstrate the curricular integration of DEI concepts for each nursing program.

Results: Our content analysis revealed many strengths such as interprofessional collaboration, minority health, and health disparities. One notable finding was the lack of DEI curricular integration at the assignment and student learning outcome level. Additionally, some programs only had one or two courses that included the majority of DEI content and these were not offered first to provide students with a foundation in DEI concepts.

Limitations: First, the data were not complete although most faculty completed the surveys. Second, some faculty interpreted the DEI concepts in different ways despite the definitions provided. There may be more DEI content within a course that was not easily visible or reported. Finally, we delimited our literature review to curricular analysis and recommended a follow-up literature review on how to center DEI within instructional practices.

Conclusions/Implications for Practice: This is still a work in progress. There is continued discussion about how to better define DEI concepts and more importantly, how to teach nursing students competencies for delivering culturally sensitive, equitable healthcare to diverse populations.

Rebecca Red Wolf
Ed.D.

Biography

Dr. Rebecca Red Wolf led the Curricular DEI Task Force for the University of Rochester School of Nursing (URSON). Rebecca completed her Ed.D. at the University of Southern California's Organizational Change and Leadership program in May 2022. She is currently designing MOOCs, writing courses, and a Comprehensive Learner Record for the URSON. Dr. Red Wolf is an assistant professor, reading specialist, instructional designer, and seasoned educator of 30+ years. She is an enrolled member of the Tyendinaga Mohawk First Nation Reserve.

Email: rebecca_wolf@urmc.rochester.edu

Co-Author(s)
Andrew Wolf, Ed.D., RN, AGACNP-BC, CNE