A legal primer on affirmative action in nursing education.

Affirmative action policies are under challenge. To date, judicial concerns must be understood historically. The legal question is to define the conditions under which racial categories may be used for remedial or beneficial purposes to overcome the effects of past discrimination. Beyond exercising strict scrutiny over the use of racial classifications, courts have supported the diversification of academe. For nursing programs, the challenge is to develop policies and procedures to broaden participation without reliance on racial categories. The benefits of diversifying the nursing work force need not be discarded in response to judicial and political reaction to affirmative action.