Vanderbilt University School of Nursing’s commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion makes us who we are—a community that values differences and encourages people to thrive. We actively seek and cultivate diverse populations and perspectives, and promote equity and inclusion for our students, faculty and staff.

VUSN Diversity, Inclusion and Anti-racism Statement

At Vanderbilt University School of Nursing (VUSN), we are intentional about and assume accountability for fostering advancement and respect for equity, diversity, and inclusion for all students, faculty, and staff. We support our efforts with respect for the inherent dignity, worth, and unique attributes of every person. To bring to life our vision of inclusive excellence, we seek to recruit, admit, hire, retain, promote, and support diverse and underrepresented groups of students, staff, and faculty. We value social justice and human rights. We embrace the plurality of humanity that composes our community including, but not limited to, age, race, ethnic origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, and religion. We reject racism of any kind, be it systemic, institutional, or individual. We acknowledge the painful histories related to racism even within the nursing discipline, including education, practice, and research. We pledge to not let an unjust past continue to determine the future. We will enact practices which promote anti-racism and social justice across all entities within VUSN. We affirm the inherent worth of each individual in order to protect, promote, and optimize the health and abilities of all people. As educators of advanced practice nurses, nurse scholars, nurse leaders, and nurse faculty, we accept the responsibility to foster and graduate highly-educated, culturally-sensitive health care professionals who mirror the diverse populations they serve.

Revised 2020