The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Special Interest Group (SIG) was established in 2025 to promote equity, celebrate diversity, and foster inclusiveness within NASN. This group provides a safe and supportive space for school nurses to explore and address biases that impact both personal and professional growth. The DEI SIG values the exchange of ideas among school nurses working across various healthcare settings, recognizing the strength that comes from diverse perspectives and experiences.
Expanding the Definition of Diversity
The DEI SIG embraces a broad and inclusive definition of diversity, which includes:
- Race, gender, ethnicity, and sexual orientation.
- Geographic diversity – Recognizing the unique challenges and perspectives of school nurses in urban, rural, and suburban communities.
- Professional diversity – Valuing school nurses from different educational backgrounds, career stages, and healthcare settings.
- Socioeconomic diversity – Understanding how economic factors impact school nursing and student health.
- Disability and ability diversity – Advocating for accessibility and inclusivity in school health practices.
- Cultural and linguistic diversity – Supporting multilingual school nurses and diverse cultural perspectives in healthcare.
- Neurodiversity and learning differences – Acknowledging different ways of thinking and processing information as strengths in the field.
By embracing the increasing diversity of NASN’s membership, the DEI SIG fosters dialogue and collaboration among school nurses across all backgrounds and lived experiences.
DEI SIG Mission Statement
The mission of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Special Interest Group (DEI SIG) is to advocate for equitable school nursing practices, promote diversity and inclusiveness within school nursing, and provide a supportive space for meaningful discussions on bias and systemic inequities. By embracing a broad definition of diversity, the DEI SIG fosters dialogue and collaboration among school nurses in a wide range of healthcare settings.
Join the DEI SIG
Are you passionate about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in school nursing?
Would you like to connect with like-minded professionals and expand your knowledge?
The DEI SIG welcomes all NASN members and offers opportunities for interactive discussions and networking throughout the year, including:
- Engagement via the DEI SIG discussion list on NASN’s SchoolNurseNet
- Collaboration at the NASN annual conference
- Participation in the DEI SIG annual meeting
Get involved today and help drive meaningful change!