The Power To Amplify Equity and Anti-Racism
By Monique Reed, PhD, RN
Monique Reed, PhD, RN, is Assistant Dean, Associate Professor at a large academic medical center in the Midwest.
On May 25, 2020 I watched the murder of George Floyd and immediately
acknowledged the need for a racial reckoning in America.
My purpose is to advocate for social justice and equity in nursing education and historically oppressed populations. I recognize that my educational privilege affords me the power to develop a cadre of nurses trained in equity and anti-racism to improve health outcomes in marginalized populations.
My nursing career began on September 11, 2001. I was engaged and supporting my fiancé through the police academy when the terrorist attacks happened. In that moment that I was confident of my decision to be a nurse.
Three years later, with a nursing license and a one-year old son, I was a divorced single mother who survived an abusive relationship. An advisor suggested I apply to a PhD program.
Notwithstanding bumps and bruises of racial microaggressions along the way, I survived and graduated from a top-ranked PhD in nursing program. I was re-married with a now seven-year old son, one-year old daughter and two stepsons.
Through the next five years, as nursing faculty, my preparedness and educational abilities would be questioned, most often because I am Black.
Observing similar cycles of discrimination in nursing education and disparate health outcomes in marginalized populations, I intentionally order my steps to align with my purpose. Although racial/ethnic minority groups are 37% of the U.S. population, they only comprise 20% of registered nurses.
In Chicago, residents in highly segregated, low-income neighborhoods are disproportionately affected by COVID-19 related deaths. Guided by faith, as a nurse leader, I’ve committed my professional work to amplify equity and anti-racism in nursing education and historically oppressed populations.
“Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhumane.” — Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Monique Reed PhD RN is Assistant Dean, Associate Professor at a large academic medical center in the Midwest. The nursing program she oversee graduates 150 new nurses each year. @MoniqueReedPhD https://www.facebook.com/monique.reedphd ; https://www.instagram.com/iamdr.reed/ ; https://blackgirlsmove.org/
Dr. Monique Reed founded Black Girls Move, a program to engage mothers and daughters in healthy lifestyles.
““My purpose is to advocate for social justice and equity in nursing education and historically oppressed populations. I recognize that my educational privilege affords me the power to develop a cadre of nurses trained in equity and anti-racism to improve health outcomes in marginalized populations.” @MoniqueReedPhD #PowerToChangeStories ”