Black and Asian nurses are overlooked for promotion because of structural racism, according to “deeply shocking” research. The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) said its study suggests racism is “endemic” in health and care, with white nurses twice as likely as their black and Asian colleagues to get promoted.
A survey of almost 10,000 nursing staff found that those who are white or of a mixed ethnic background were more likely than black and Asian colleagues to have received at least one promotion since starting their career. The difference was most stark among those aged 35 to 44 years old, said the RCN, which published the report at its annual congress in Glasgow.
The college called on the Government to take action to tackle racism, such as including a legal requirement to eliminate disparities in recruitment, retention and career progression, or a greater responsibility for employers to protect minority ethnic groups. The RCN said structural racism is having a “devastating” impact on minority ethnic staff, highlighting survey findings that black respondents working in hospitals and in the community were more likely to report having experienced physical abuse than respondents of other ethnic backgrounds.
