Other Titles
Fostering Inclusivity in Diverse Nursing Classrooms [Title Slide]
Abstract
There are growing bodies of evidence demonstrating the benefits of equity, diversity, and inclusion on academic and organizational excellence(Dewidar et al., 2022). Because of political conflicts, there is an ever-changing mix of people with diverse cultural backgrounds who require institutions to provide continuing education to ensure that effective services are provided to everyone (Mula et al., 2023). Following the events of October 7, divisions within the class began to emerge. Clinical instructors and nursing faculty noticed that during breaks, students would separate into groups of Arabs and Jews, with each group sitting apart from the other. The objective of this workshop were to create a safe and equal academic environment within a culturally diverse setting, while maintaining the values and identity of each student. The class consisted of 50 students (both Jews and Arabs), with 25 students participating. They were divided into two groups based on religion: 13 Jewish students and 12 Arab students, with one Arab-Druze student choosing to join the group of Jewish students. Two instructors from the School of Nursing facilitated the workshop: an Arab instructor led the session with the Arab students, while a Jewish instructor led the session with the Jewish students. The workshop lasted for six hours and included the following structure: introductions and clarification of the session’s purpose, an emotional sharing circle, expression of expectations from the other group, tools and suggestions for moving forward, and a final summary. After the workshop, a survey was distributed to the participants.The majority (95%) reported that the workshop was beneficial. Sixteen of the respondents indicated they would recommend the workshop to other students. All the students reported that the workshop facilitation was organized and clear. In the open-ended question, most students expressed an interest in continuing the process and developing a joint discussion between both groups. The data reflect the workshop’s effectiveness in addressing the tensions and conflicts that arose following the events of October 7. Additionally, the students expressed a desire for a continued process in which a joint discussion between the two groups would take place. In conclusion, the workshop contributed to an atmosphere of equal and acceptance of the "other," fostering a culture of inclusivity and mutual understanding within a diverse group of students.
Notes
References:
Mula, T., Azuri, P., & Baumann, S. L. (2023). Nursing Cultural Competence in Israel: Does Practice Make It Better?. Nursing Science Quarterly, 36(1), 78-84.
Dewidar, O., Elmestekawy, N., & Welch, V. (2022). Improving equity, diversity, and inclusion in academia. Research Integrity and Peer Review, 7(1), 4.
Sigma Membership
Non-member
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
N/A
Research Approach
N/A
Keywords:
Nursing Students, Classroom Diversity, Tension, Political Conflicts, Safe and Equal Academic Environment
Recommended Citation
Orabi Osman, Asmaa and Hayun, Yemima, "Fostering Inclusivity: A Workshop on Building Cohesion in a Diverse Nursing Classroom" (2025). International Nursing Research Congress (INRC). 109.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/inrc/2025/presentations_2025/109
Conference Name
36th International Nursing Research Congress
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Seattle, Washington, USA
Conference Year
2025
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Fostering Inclusivity: A Workshop on Building Cohesion in a Diverse Nursing Classroom
Seattle, Washington, USA
There are growing bodies of evidence demonstrating the benefits of equity, diversity, and inclusion on academic and organizational excellence(Dewidar et al., 2022). Because of political conflicts, there is an ever-changing mix of people with diverse cultural backgrounds who require institutions to provide continuing education to ensure that effective services are provided to everyone (Mula et al., 2023). Following the events of October 7, divisions within the class began to emerge. Clinical instructors and nursing faculty noticed that during breaks, students would separate into groups of Arabs and Jews, with each group sitting apart from the other. The objective of this workshop were to create a safe and equal academic environment within a culturally diverse setting, while maintaining the values and identity of each student. The class consisted of 50 students (both Jews and Arabs), with 25 students participating. They were divided into two groups based on religion: 13 Jewish students and 12 Arab students, with one Arab-Druze student choosing to join the group of Jewish students. Two instructors from the School of Nursing facilitated the workshop: an Arab instructor led the session with the Arab students, while a Jewish instructor led the session with the Jewish students. The workshop lasted for six hours and included the following structure: introductions and clarification of the session’s purpose, an emotional sharing circle, expression of expectations from the other group, tools and suggestions for moving forward, and a final summary. After the workshop, a survey was distributed to the participants.The majority (95%) reported that the workshop was beneficial. Sixteen of the respondents indicated they would recommend the workshop to other students. All the students reported that the workshop facilitation was organized and clear. In the open-ended question, most students expressed an interest in continuing the process and developing a joint discussion between both groups. The data reflect the workshop’s effectiveness in addressing the tensions and conflicts that arose following the events of October 7. Additionally, the students expressed a desire for a continued process in which a joint discussion between the two groups would take place. In conclusion, the workshop contributed to an atmosphere of equal and acceptance of the "other," fostering a culture of inclusivity and mutual understanding within a diverse group of students.
Description
The workshop was designed to address rising tensions between Arab and Jewish nursing students following the events of October 7, which led to increased divisions within the class. The objective was to surface underlying conflicts related to the political situation and create a safe, inclusive academic environment. The six-hour workshop included emotional sharing, discussions of expectations from the other group, and suggestions for moving forward.