Advancing Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Nursing: Reflections from SIENNA’s JEDI Webinar with Dr. Sheldon Fields

By: Dr. Sherif Olanrewaju, PhD, MPS, PGDE, FSIEN

The Society of Internationally Educated Nurses and Nursing Allies’ Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee recently hosted a powerful, timely webinar titled “Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Nursing: What Matters?” The 60-minute session brought together nurses, educators, leaders, and advocates for a reflective conversation about how JEDI principles can move beyond statements of support and become actionable strategies across clinical practice, education, leadership, and policy.

The distinguished speaker for the webinar was Dr. Sheldon D. Fields, PhD, RN, CRNP, FNP-BC, AACRN, FAANP, FNAP, FAAN, Associate Dean for Equity and Inclusion and Research Professor at Pennsylvania State University, and President of the National Black Nurses Association. With an extensive career spanning nursing education, health policy, leadership, HIV prevention research, and equity-centered scholarship, Dr. Fields brought both scholarly depth and lived professional insight to the conversation.

The session was moderated by Sherif Olanrewaju, with Charity Belmes-Dhiman introducing the speaker. The interview was led by Panagiota Tsikala and Alanda White, whose thoughtful questions guided the discussion on some of the most pressing equity issues facing nursing today.

A central theme of the webinar was the need to translate JEDI concepts into measurable change. While many nursing professionals are familiar with the language of diversity, equity, and inclusion, Dr. Fields emphasized that meaningful progress requires deeper attention to structural inequities that shape workforce experiences and patient outcomes. These include bias in hiring and promotion, inequitable access to educational opportunities, exclusionary leadership practices, and policy decisions that determine who is supported, represented, and advanced within the profession.

The conversation also addressed subtle yet powerful forms of exclusion, including accent bias, cultural norms, and perceptions of organizational “fit.” These dynamics often operate quietly in professional settings, yet they can significantly affect internationally educated nurses, immigrant nurses, and nurses from historically marginalized communities. For SIENNA’s community, this discussion was especially relevant. Internationally educated nurses bring global knowledge, resilience, multilingual skills, and culturally informed perspectives to healthcare systems; however, they may also face barriers related to credentialing, professional recognition, communication expectations, and belonging.

Dr. Fields encouraged participants to think critically about how nursing education must evolve to prepare professionals for culturally safe and equitable care. This includes moving beyond cultural competence as a checklist toward cultural humility, accountability, and systems-level change. In increasingly diverse healthcare environments, nurses must be prepared not only to care for diverse patient populations but also to advocate for workplaces that respect, support, and empower diverse professionals to lead.

Another important discussion focused on global perspectives within JEDI frameworks. Too often, equity conversations are shaped primarily by U.S.-based cultural assumptions. Dr. Fields challenged participants to consider how JEDI principles may differ across countries, migration experiences, healthcare systems, and professional cultures. For internationally educated nurses, this global lens is essential. Equity work must recognize the complexity of migration, professional identity, language, race, ethnicity, nationality, and social power.

The webinar also highlighted the role of nursing organizations in advancing equity beyond symbolic gestures. Policies and statements are important starting points, but they are not sufficient. Organizations must ask difficult questions: Who is represented in leadership roles? Whose expertise is valued? How are hiring, mentoring, promotion, and recognition practices evaluated? What data are collected to measure progress? How are nurses from diverse backgrounds included in decision-making?

One of the most practical takeaways from the session was the call for nurses to identify one immediate action they can take to advance equity and inclusion in their own environment. This may include mentoring an internationally educated nurse, challenging biased assumptions, advocating for transparent promotion processes, supporting culturally safe education, or helping ensure that equity metrics are linked to organizational accountability.

The JEDI Committee’s webinar was more than an educational event; it was a call to reflection and action. It reminded participants that justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion are not abstract ideals but daily practices that shape who enters the profession, who thrives within it, who leads, and how patients experience care.

As SIENNA continues its mission to support internationally educated nurses and nursing allies, conversations like this are vital. They create space for dialogue, learning, advocacy, and collective accountability. Most importantly, they affirm that the future of nursing must be inclusive, globally informed, and justice-centered.

SIENNA extends its sincere appreciation to Dr. Sheldon Fields for sharing his expertise and leadership, to the JEDI Committee for organizing this meaningful program, and to all participants who joined the conversation. Together, we continue to build a nursing profession in which every nurse is seen, valued, supported, and empowered to contribute fully.

About the Author

Dr. Sherif Olanrewaju serves as a Board of Director and Chair of the Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Committee of the Society of Internationally Educated Nurses and Nursing Allies (SIENNA).