National black consciousness day and the reflection on structural racism in brazilian nursing

Structural racism in Brazilian nursing

Abstract

National Black Awareness Day calls on nursing to reflect on policies to reduce social and racial inequality in Brazil. In recent decades, affirmative policies, such as democratized access to higher education for black, brown, indigenous people and public school graduates, have been developed, transforming the participation of black people in universities. However, even with the increase in black graduates, challenges persist in terms of visibility and prestige. Preliminary data shows that the majority of nurses in the south of Minas Gerais identify as white, despite more than 50% of Brazilian nursing staff being black, predominantly at technical levels. The low presence of black nurses in senior positions, influenced by race variables, highlights institutional racism. It is necessary to promote discussions and research to combat structural racism and increase black representation in higher-level nursing jobs.