Examining Whiteness in Obstetric and Pediatric Simulations: A Content Analysis.

BACKGROUND

Whiteness is a systemic construct that functions to make itself invisible and prevent its racialization. Whiteness informs the nursing profession on all levels and impacts how nurses learn, relate to, and perpetuate whiteness through structural, curricular, interpersonal, and ideological means. The aim of this study was to use an antiracist framework to analyze manifestations of whiteness in select prelicensure obstetric and pediatric clinical simulation scenarios at a large midwestern college of nursing.

METHODS

Nine prelicensure nursing simulations were analyzed for themes using qualitative content analysis.

RESULTS

Two themes related to whiteness emerged from the data-normalizing whiteness in assessment and othering.

CONCLUSION

Applying an antiracist framework in clinical nursing education can assist educators and students to see the embedded whiteness and racism in the curriculum and begin to address it. Additional analysis is needed to explore nurse educators and student perceptions of whiteness in simulations. .