A study provided insights into the leadership experience of African Nova Scotian (ANS) nurses, a culturally distinct group that experiences many socioeconomic inequities and health disparities. The results were published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.
“Understanding the experiences of ANS health practitioners is important in addressing anti-Black racism in health care,” the investigators noted. They utilized Black feminist theory to conduct this study, which consisted of 1-on-1 semi structured telephone interviews with ANS nurses and analyzation of interview transcripts. A total of 18 nurses of ANS ancestry were included in the assessment.
The study was broken down into 3 overarching areas: People of ANS ancestry as a distinct people, institution of care, and leadership philosophy and practice. “Each area, and its corresponding themes and subthemes, illustrated an emergent understanding of factors that influence leadership among ANS nurses, such as socialization, early exposure to care, and diversity in health care. Participants perceived and practiced leadership in a manner that transcended formal titles or designations,” the researchers said of the findings. This study “provides new insights that could inform recruitment, retention, and representation of ANS people in nursing and other health professions,” they concluded.
