The Bastardization of DEIA: Regressing Decades of Progress in Nursing and Healthcare
Kechi Iheduru‐Anderson, Roberta Waite, Teri A. Murray
Abstract
Diversity, Equity Inclusion, and Access (DEIA) initiatives are necessary and the bare minimum of what needs to be implemented to the systemic inequities in education and healthcare, particularly in nursing. Recent laws and proposed legislative rollbacks threaten to reverse decades of progress by dismantling affirmative action, defunding workforce diversity grants, and restricting DEIA programs in academic and clinical settings. The nursing profession, historically reflective of broader societal discrimination, has made strides toward inclusivity, yet persistent racial disparities in hiring, leadership, and patient care underscore the continued necessity of equitable and inclusive policies. Drawing from the Sullivan Commission (2004) and The Future of Nursing reports (2010, 2021), this paper examines the implications of these policy changes for workforce diversity, health equity, and nursing education in the United States. The discourse surrounding DEIA has been reframed as a political issue rather than a structural correction and moral responsibility, despite overwhelming evidence that diverse healthcare workforces lead to improved patient outcomes. As a profession rooted in advocacy and social justice, nursing must oppose regressive policies by upholding inclusive hiring, education, and training practices. By exploring historical, legal, and ethical perspectives, this paper argues that dismantling DEIA initiatives is not a restoration of meritocracy but rather a reinforcement of systemic barriers that perpetuate inequities in healthcare access and outcomes.