Dr. Raelene Brooks, Dr. Sun Jones, and Dr. Tina Ho joined the conference proceedings

University of Phoenix College of Nursing is pleased to share the success of its leadership's presentation at the 2023 Convention of the Organization for Associate Degree Nursing (OADN), where they led a session titled “Navigating conversations and strategies to embrace diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) through reducing racism and bias.” The session took place on Saturday, November 18, 2023.

The session featured Raelene Brooks, Ph.D., RN, Dean, College of Nursing; Sun Jones, DNP, RN, FNP-BC, Systematic Program and Curriculum Evaluator; and Tina Ho, DNP, FNP-C, RN, Clinical Coordinator for RN-BSN & MSN Non-NP Programs, discussing their retrospective review of multi-level interventions aimed at addressing inequality in access, retention, and success within under-represented and/or recognized marginalized groups.

The College of Nursing incorporates DEIB into its core values and curriculum, aligning with the broader university initiatives. In this educational session at OADN, the leaders shared insights into the revision of program and course learning outcomes, integrating cultural diversity, community/public health nursing, global health issues, health promotion, and risk reduction for various vulnerable populations. The session also covered how course assignments were reviewed and revised to incorporate case studies and discussion questions reflecting DEIB values, and how the impact of these changes was measured through faculty and student surveys.

Reflecting on the success of the event, Brooks stated, “Our participation at the OADN Conference allowed us to showcase the impactful DEIB strategies we've implemented at the University of Phoenix. It's gratifying to see the positive outcomes and the potential for these strategies to contribute to a more inclusive educational environment and nursing workforce.”

The objectives of the session included:

• Recognizing the importance of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) in an online University and College of Nursing.
• Gaining insights into the multi-faceted and scaffolded strategies employed by a large complex online educational institution.
• Examining the direct impact of inclusive forums on combating racism, bias, and promoting DEIB.
• Evaluating the effects of integrating DEIB content into nursing curriculum.
• Understanding the importance of supporting students from diverse backgrounds throughout their educational journey.

Brooks is the Dean of the College of Nursing at the University of Phoenix. As a nursing researcher, she studied the long-term outcomes and weight regain in the bariatric surgery population and completed her doctorate at the University of San Diego. Dr. Brooks has been a registered nurse for over 25 years and practiced extensively in ICU, trauma, and critical care. She has achieved tenure twice during her academic career in the State of California. She is a Doris Howell Scholar with The Howell Foundation, dedicated to "making a long-term positive impact on women's health." Brooks’ academic background is teaching nursing education before transitioning to deanship. She was recently recognized as an industry leader in healthcare by AzBusiness magazine.

Jones is an esteemed bilingual family nurse practitioner who has served her Korean community for over 22 years. She holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree and a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) in Family Nurse Practitioner from Arizona State University. Jones serves as Systematic Program and Curriculum Evaluator and an interim Program Chair for the Family Nurse Practitioner program, and as associate faculty. Her contributions extend beyond academia; she is a contributing author to the book, Journey to Equity: Strengthening the Profession of Nursing, and presents at various conferences. A dedicated mentor, she guides FNP students and has received accolades for her preceptorship. Committed to community health, she founded the Arizona Korean Nurses Association in 2010 and the Korean American Nurses Foundation in 2021, focusing on the Asian and Pacific Islander communities' well-being. Her leadership and volunteer efforts were recognized with awards, including a commendation from the Arizona Governor for her role in COVID-19 vaccination clinics, which reached thousands of minority community members.

Ho is an instructor at College of Nursing with more than 15 years’ experience teaching nursing students at various levels including ADN, BSN, MSN, and DNP. She is well-versed and committed to promoting DEIB throughout her career. She believes in equal opportunity for every student since they are unique in their own way. Ho strives to create an open, inclusive, and equal learning environment in which every student can grow and flourish.

Learn more here about the College of Nursing at University of Phoenix.

About University of Phoenix

University of Phoenix innovates to help working adults enhance their careers and develop skills in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules, relevant courses, interactive learning, skills-mapped curriculum for our bachelor’s and master’s degree programs, and a Career Services for Life® commitment help students more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives. For more information, visit phoenix.edu.

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It's gratifying to see the positive outcomes and the potential for these strategies to contribute to a more inclusive educational environment and nursing workforce.