Build to Last: When Frontline Nurses Champion Diversity

One of the most effective strategies for championing diversity, promoting inclusiveness and providing culturally competent care is having frontline staff serve as peer mentors, facilitators, and leaders to support, educate and influence other nurses in the organization. By providing necessary resources, frontline staff was supported to champion diversity, inclusiveness and culturally competent care in an academic medical center. This strategy has been effective as the clinical nurses comprise more than 80% of hospital cultural competence committee members. Each unit representative or champion serves as the focal point of communication between the cultural competence leadership team and clinical unit on diversity and culturally competent issues. This strategy has ensured greater unit accountability for embracing diversity, improving inclusive thought process, and providing culturally competent care.