Diversity enhances excellence and innovation. Including diverse individuals who are also different thinkers because of their lived experiences, can increase the breadth and depth of nursing research and clinical inquires. A diverse and inclusive team can ultimately improve the scope and approach to problems that affect all corners of nursing and patient populations. Nurse leaders should prioritize nursing strategic goals that foster a culture that prioritizes and sustains diversity at all levels of the nursing workforce. Diversity and inclusion should penetrate the pipeline for nursing recruitment, mentor and mentees, nurse educators, nurse scientists, nursing leadership, organizational committees, national organizations, and advocacy in both the state and national policy.

ONL NJ is honored to welcome two dynamic nurse leaders and researchers whose work has been focused on to advancing diversity through research.

Charlotte Thomas-Hawkins, PhD, RN, FAAN, Associate Dean, Nursing Science, Associate Professor and Director, Center for Healthcare Quality of Nursing Science will discuss her initial and ongoing research from a 2020 survey of 800 nurses working in acute care hospitals in New Jersey. Participants completed online questionnaires that studies indicators of emotional distress, COVID-19 worry and concerns, workplace racial climate, workplace racial microaggression experiences and demographic information. Based on her findings, Dr. Thomas-Hawkins will share implications and recommendations for the nursing workforce.

Ophelia M. Byers, DNP, APRN, WHNP-BC, NEA-BC, CPXP, CDE(R), Chief Nursing Officer, Overlook Medical Center & Associate Chief Nurse Executive, Atlantic Health System will share the research the American Nurse Association (ANA) is conducting through the National Commission to Address Racism in Nursing (the Commission). The Commission is examining the issues of racism within nursing nationwide and aims to describe the impact on nurses, patients, communities, and health care systems with a goal to engage all nurses to confront systemic racism.

Please join ONL NJ for the 19th Annual Research Day, where the values of advancing diversity in research, scholar and practice will be explored along with approaches to achieve the advancement.

Learning Outcome:

At the conclusion of this program, participants will recognize the importance of advancing diversity in research, scholar and practice and will self-report confidence in initiating a nursing research project within 60 days of returning to their practice

Eighty percent of the learners will report that they have confidence in initiating some form of nursing research that will advance diversity in research, scholar, and practice within their practice setting.

Successful completion of the webinar is defined as attendance for 100 percent of the webinar learning session and a completed course evaluation.

Target Audience:

Chief Nursing Officers, nursing leaders, nurse scientists, nurse researchers, nurse managers, nursing coordinators, assistant nurse managers, staff nurses, aspiring nurse leaders, ONL NJ mentors and mentees, university deans, nurse educators, students, and leaders in both pre- and post-acute settings.

Continuing Nursing Education Credits:

This nursing continuing professional development activity was approved by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation. Approval refers to recognition of continuing education only and does not imply AACN or or ANCC approval or endorsement of the content of this educational activity.

This activity provides 4.0 contact hours.