Health Equity Consortium
Since their inception on November 2022, these health equity interest groups have been meeting regularly to share their respective interest group priorities, provide RNAO with ongoing feedback and identify opportunities for collaboration to address and advance health equity, diversity and inclusion in the nursing profession and health systems.
RNAO’s Health Equity Consortium members:
RNAO’s Health Equity Consortium brings together members of the Black Nurses Task Force (BNTF), Black Nurses Leading Change (BNLC) Interest Group, Indigenous Nurses and Allies Interest Group (INAIG) and the Rainbow Nursing Interest Group (RNIG) to help address inequities in health care.
Those pictured include: (top row, left to right) Dr. Paul-André Gauthier, ENO Social media & Membership, RNIG, Tanya Costa, Indigenous Health Program, RNAO, RNIG past-president Dr. Shelley Evans, Dr. Brenda Stade, Guideline Development Methodologist, RNAO. (second row, left to right) Harveer Punia, Implementation Science Manager, RNAO, Grace Suva, Indigenous Health Program Sr. Manager, RNAO, Dr. Doris Grinspun, CEO, RNAO, Dr. Michelle Rey, IABPG Director, RNAO. (third row, left to right) Lori Zozzolotto, BNLC Chair, Dr. Angela Cooper Brathwaite, BNTF co-chair, Lauren Bailey Implementation Science Manager, RNAO, Alicia Gonzalez, ENO social media, INAIG. (forth row, left to right) Stephanie Buchanan, RNAO Guideline Development Methodologist, Corsita Garraway, BNTF co-chair. Not pictured: Maxine Lesage, RNAO BOD member, Sarah Thornley, President RNIG-RNAO, Daria Adèle Juüdi-Hope, BNLC, Dania Versailles, BNLC, Dr. Claudette Holloway, RNAO past-president, Kate Hanson, Indigenous Health Program Manager, RNAO.
Composed of leaders from the Black Nurses Task Force (BNTF), the Black Nurses Leading Change (BNLC) Interest Group, the Indigenous Nurses and Allies Interest Group (INAIG), and the Rainbow Nursing Interest Group (RNIG), and supported by RNAO’s CEO and staff, the consortium meets quarterly to share their respective interest group priorities and feedback on RNAO’s work within the three health equity In Focus areas to increase awareness about the impact of systemic racism and discrimination on nurses and patients.
RNAO AGM 2023
At RNAO’s 2023 Annual General Meeting, the consortium led a closing keynote panel titled “Have you ever been discriminated against? A participatory session for reflection and action”.
Moderated by RNAO Past-President Dr. Claudette Holloway, the panel invited speakers to share their lived experiences with discrimination and the structural and policy changes needed to create safe spaces for people who provide and access health care.
Above (from left to right): Maxine Lesage, RNAO board representative, Dr. Shelley Evans, RNIG past-president, Dania Versailles, BNLC co-chair and RNAO past-president Dr. Claudette Holloway at RNAO’s AGM.
RNAO AGM 2023:
Have you ever been discriminated against? A participatory session for reflection and action
Queens' Park Day 2024
During RNAO’s 24th annual Queen’s Park Day in February 2024, representatives from BNTF, BNLC, INAIG and RNIG shared their lived experiences with RNAO constituents and politicians as part of the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Nursing and the Health System panel.
The panel presentation featured a member of RNIG’s executive, John Edwards; INAIG chair Victoria Guido, and BNLC chair Lori Zozzolotto who shared strategies for nurses to advance EDI. The panelists discussed the ongoing challenges the 2SLGBTQ+, Indigenous and Black communities face in integrating into the nursing profession, the broader health-care system and society. They also shared personal stories from their upbringing, highlighting both the progress made and the continued struggles for equity and inclusion in health care and beyond.
Their insights emphasized the importance of creating more inclusive spaces for all marginalized groups. One example: Edwards discussed the “Sharing of Stories” project, which highlights the experiences of queer nurses and the strength of giving voice. See the first two stories published on page 16 and 17 in RNIG’s November 2024 newsletter.
Above: Victoria Guido, INAIG chair (left), Lori Zozzolotto, BNLC co-chair (centre) and John Edwards, RNIG secretary spoke
Queen's Park Day 2024:
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Panel at RNAO's video
Manuscript
In December 2024, the Health Equity Consortium published a manuscript in the Canadian Journal of Nursing Research called, Health Equity Consortium: Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion for Black, Indigenous, and 2SLGBTQIA+ Nurses. Currently, the Health Equity Consortium is working on another submission for publication
Learn more by exploring the In Focus section of RNAO’s website.
Health Equity Related Best Practice Guildelines
In development BPGs
These guidelines are currently in development and are expected to be published in 2026.
Addressing Anti-Black Racism in Nursing
This guideline will focus on creating evidence-based guidance to help eliminate anti-Black racism in nursing and improve belonging, well-being, and retention of Black nurses across all sectors. We expect to publish the guideline in Feb 2026.
Promoting Life and Prevention of Indigenous Youth Suicide
This guideline will focus on identifying best practices to promote life and wellness with Indigenous youth across communities. We expect to publish the guideline in 2026.
