DEI Calendar of Events

JUNE
Pride Month — Honoring LGBTQ+ Patients & Colleagues in Trauma Nursing Trauma nurses are often the first point of care for LGBTQ+ individuals following injury, assault, or crisis. Creating inclusive environments in trauma settings is not just a DEI value — it is a critical to delivering equitable, patient-centered care. Key Considerations in Practice Using correct names and pronouns in documentation and direct care reduces patient distress and builds trust. LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly transgender people, experience higher rates of violence and are more likely to present in trauma settings following hate-related incidents. Implicit bias training helps trauma teams recognize and counteract disparate treatment. Collecting sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) data improves population health outcomes and informs equitable care. Resources The Joint Commission — Advancing Effective Communication, Cultural Competence, and Patient- and Family-Centered Care for the LGBTQ+ Community. GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ+ Equality (glma.org). Human Rights Campaign — Healthcare Equality Index. Reflection for Trauma Nurses How does your trauma bay, your team culture, and your documentation practices signal safety and dignity to every patient who comes through your doors?
Juneteenth — Acknowledging History, Advancing Justice in Trauma Care In trauma nursing, this history echoes in present-day disparities that demand our attention and action.” To … In trauma nursing, this history underscores inequities in trauma care that we are called to address. The Data We Cannot Ignore Black Americans are disproportionately impacted by traumatic injury, including community violence, and often receive inequitable pain assessment and management. Systemic racism contributes to social determinants — poverty, under-resourced neighborhoods, lack of access to care — that drive trauma incidence. Research shows Black patients are less likely to receive adequate pain medication compared to white patients with similar injuries. Implicit bias in triage and trauma assessment can result in delayed or inadequate care. What Trauma Nurses Can Do Examine personal and institutional biases in pain management and triage decisions. Advocate for diverse hiring and leadership in trauma programs. Support community violence intervention (CVI) programs that address root causes. Engage with hospital equity committees and quality improvement initiatives targeting racial disparities. Reflection for Trauma Nurses Juneteenth asks us to consider: who in our communities is still waiting for equitable care? What role do we play in closing that gap? Resources STN DEI Resources & Position Statements American College of Surgeons — Equity, Quality, and Outcomes Committee National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities Community Violence Intervention Coalition (cvicoalition.org)

JULY
Disability Pride Month Disability Pride Month is celebrated every July to honor the history, achievements, and experiences of the disabled community. The month coincides with the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which was signed into law on July 26, 1990, to prohibit discrimination against people with disabilities. Key Considerations in Practice According to the CDC, about 61 million adults in the U.S. live with a disability, with the highest percentage concentrated in the South. Amongst the American disabled community: 1 in 3 do not have access to adequate healthcare because of the cost (CDC) 9% of disabled Americans are unemployed as of 2021 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) People with disabilities are four times more likely to be violently attacked than non-disabled people. (Bureau of Justice Statistics) In addition to the inherent challenges of living with a disability, disabled people struggle with living in an ableist society. The easiest definition of ableism is the assumption that a disabled person needs to be fixed or that they are limited by the confines of their disability. Just as racism leads to assumptions about a particular group of people, ableism can also lead to stereotypes, and generalizations about disabled people. Reflection for Trauma Nurses Nurses can support Disability Pride by providing respectful, person-centered care that recognizes each patient's expertise about their own needs and preferences. This includes using inclusive communication, promoting autonomy, and ensuring patients receive appropriate accommodations so they can participate fully in their care. Two action activities: Complete a disability inclusion training session focused on respectful communication, accessibility, and reducing bias in healthcare. Review your clinical area for accessibility (e.g., accessible equipment, communication aids, and patient education materials) and identify one improvement to implement or recommend. Resources Disability Inclusive Health Services Toolkit Free Resources on Promoting Disability Access in Healthcare

AUGUST
Intersectionality Awareness Month Intersectionality occurs when a person identifies with two or more different social identities which create unique intersecting systems of discrimination or privilege. Intersectionality awareness month was first observed in August 2019. Why it Matters in Trauma Care Intersectionality is essential to trauma nursing because it recognizes that patients’ experiences of trauma and healthcare are shaped by multiple, overlapping identities, including race, gender, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, disability, and other lived experiences. Using an intersectional lens helps nurses move beyond a one-size-fits-all approach and provide care that is more equitable, culturally responsive, and patient centered. By applying an intersectional approach, trauma nurses are better prepared to understand the broader factors that contribute to trauma. Overlapping forms of systemic discrimination—such as racism, ableism, sexism, and transphobia—can contribute to chronic stress, heightened vigilance, and intergenerational trauma. Recognizing the influence of a patient’s social and cultural background allows nurses to tailor communication, clinical interactions, and care practices in ways that promote safety, trust, and dignity while reducing the risk of unintentional re-traumatization. An intersectional perspective also helps nurses identify and challenge systemic barriers that may limit access to care, affect treatment outcomes, and perpetuate health disparities among marginalized populations. Integrating this perspective into trauma-informed nursing strengthens the quality of care and supports improved outcomes for all patient populations. How STN Members can Engage Reflecting on how overlapping identities and experiences may influence nursing practice, professional opportunities, inclusion, and bias. Examining unconscious bias and considering how assumptions may affect communication, clinical decision-making, and team dynamics. Supporting education, mentorship, and advocacy efforts that promote equity, representation, and inclusive leadership within trauma nursing. Resources Resources for Intersectionality Awareness
Women's Equality Day - August 26th In 1971, Congress designated August 26 as Women’s Equality Day to honor the fight for suffrage and advance the ongoing movement for women’s rights. Why it Matters in Trauma Care Women’s Equality Day reminds us that equity shapes how trauma patients receive care, how teams are supported, and how future leaders are developed within trauma nursing. Trauma nurses are often on the front line of caring for patients affected by gender-based violence, making trauma-informed care essential. Recognizing this connection reinforces the need for compassionate practices that promote safety, dignity, and healing. Gender bias can also affect how women’s pain, emergency needs, and trauma-related concerns are assessed and treated. Advancing equality supports more consistent, evidence-based, and equitable care for all patients. Women also continue to face workplace and leadership inequities, including underrepresentation in administrative, scientific, and leadership roles and persistent gender wage gaps. Women’s Equality Day underscores the importance of building pathways for advancement, visibility, and equitable recognition across the healthcare workforce. How STN Members can Engage Partnering with organizations that support women's empowerment- Organizations like National Organization for Women, Equality Now, UN Women. Hosting workshops and/or learnings on gender bias and diversity and trauma informed care. Participate in support and mentorship programs- within your facility, within your community, STN and other professional nursing organizations. Advocate for policies that promote inclusion. Resources Womens Equality Day Resources