DEI Calendar of Events

JUNE
Pride Month — Honoring LGBTQ+ Patients & Colleagues in Trauma Nursing Trauma nurses are often the first point of care for LGBTQ+ individuals following injury, assault, or crisis. Creating inclusive environments in trauma settings is not just a DEI value — it is a critical to delivering equitable, patient-centered care. Key Considerations in Practice Using correct names and pronouns in documentation and direct care reduces patient distress and builds trust. LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly transgender people, experience higher rates of violence and are more likely to present in trauma settings following hate-related incidents. Implicit bias training helps trauma teams recognize and counteract disparate treatment. Collecting sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) data improves population health outcomes and informs equitable care. Resources The Joint Commission — Advancing Effective Communication, Cultural Competence, and Patient- and Family-Centered Care for the LGBTQ+ Community. GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ+ Equality (glma.org). Human Rights Campaign — Healthcare Equality Index. Reflection for Trauma Nurses How does your trauma bay, your team culture, and your documentation practices signal safety and dignity to every patient who comes through your doors?
Juneteenth — Acknowledging History, Advancing Justice in Trauma Care In trauma nursing, this history echoes in present-day disparities that demand our attention and action.” To … In trauma nursing, this history underscores inequities in trauma care that we are called to address. The Data We Cannot Ignore Black Americans are disproportionately impacted by traumatic injury, including community violence, and often receive inequitable pain assessment and management. Systemic racism contributes to social determinants — poverty, under-resourced neighborhoods, lack of access to care — that drive trauma incidence. Research shows Black patients are less likely to receive adequate pain medication compared to white patients with similar injuries. Implicit bias in triage and trauma assessment can result in delayed or inadequate care. What Trauma Nurses Can Do Examine personal and institutional biases in pain management and triage decisions. Advocate for diverse hiring and leadership in trauma programs. Support community violence intervention (CVI) programs that address root causes. Engage with hospital equity committees and quality improvement initiatives targeting racial disparities. Resources STN DEI Resources & Position Statements American College of Surgeons — Equity, Quality, and Outcomes Committee National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities Community Violence Intervention Coalition (cvicoalition.org) Reflection for Trauma Nurses Juneteenth asks us to consider: who in our communities is still waiting for equitable care? What role do we play in closing that gap?

JULY
Disability Pride Month Disability Pride Month is celebrated every July to honor the history, achievements, and experiences of the disabled community. The month coincides with the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which was signed into law on July 26, 1990, to prohibit discrimination against people with disabilities. Key Considerations in Practice According to the CDC, about 61 million adults in the U.S. live with a disability, with the highest percentage concentrated in the South. Amongst the American disabled community: 1 in 3 do not have access to adequate healthcare because of the cost (CDC) 9% of disabled Americans are unemployed as of 2021 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) People with disabilities are four times more likely to be violently attacked than non-disabled people. (Bureau of Justice Statistics) In addition to the inherent challenges of living with a disability, disabled people struggle with living in an ableist society. The easiest definition of ableism is the assumption that a disabled person needs to be fixed or that they are limited by the confines of their disability. Just as racism leads to assumptions about a particular group of people, ableism can also lead to stereotypes, and generalizations about disabled people. Resources Disability Inclusive Health Services Toolkit Free Resources on Promoting Disability Access in Healthcare Reflection for Trauma Nurses Nurses can support Disability Pride by providing respectful, person-centered care that recognizes each patient's expertise about their own needs and preferences. This includes using inclusive communication, promoting autonomy, and ensuring patients receive appropriate accommodations so they can participate fully in their care. Two action activities: Complete a disability inclusion training session focused on respectful communication, accessibility, and reducing bias in healthcare. Review your clinical area for accessibility (e.g., accessible equipment, communication aids, and patient education materials) and identify one improvement to implement or recommend.