Community of Black Students in Nursing (CBSN)
Description of Community of Black Students in Nursing (CBSN): Community of Black Students in Nursing (CBSN) is a peer support/ peer mentoring group, within the School of Nursing created by and for students of Black or African descent. The group is open to students in all levels of the nursing program (undergraduate and graduate), prospective nursing students (from other programs, Transition Year Program, Practical Nursing program) as well as recent graduates. The group focuses largely on nursing education and practice, using an Afrocentric approach, by incorporating Black and African values and activities.
Rationale: Black students of African descent have unique needs that often go unmet and are not candidly discussed. Additionally, in predominantly white institutions, Black students are placed in unsafe environments and forced to navigate a system that renders them as “other”. Several successful engagement activities over the last few years through the Promoting Leadership in health for African Nova Scotians (PLANS) programs in the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry, and Health combined with feedback from students, highlighted gaps in supports and services for Black students. Many Black students that have completed or are in the process of completing their nursing degree have indicated that this group is necessary.
Goal of the Group: To offer and provide support for Black students in the nursing program at Dalhousie University.
Objectives of the Group:
- Personal Development: To provide a safe space for students to discuss concerns or issues related to being Black in the nursing profession.
- Research: To have focused discussion on how to become more involved with research and scholarly activities (conferences, presentations and publications).
- Community Outreach: To develop and foster strong connections and relationships in the Black community (throughout HRM and possibly across Nova Scotia).
- Mentorship: To facilitate communication and support between Black nursing students across programs.
- Academics: To share and discuss opportunities for continuing education as well as strategies for academic success.
- Professional Development: To discuss concerns related to licensing, registration, examination and other practice related topics.
Format: Monthly workshops/ meetings, lasting 1.5 hrs. The first 30 minutes will be used as an opportunity for general discussion. The remaining 60 minutes will be used for the planned workshop activity.
Promoting Leadership in health for African Nova Scotians (PLANS) Mission: PLANS seeks to increase representation of African Nova Scotians in the health professions through recruitment and retention, community collaborations and partnerships to improve health outcomes within the African Nova Scotian community.
School of Nursing: The School of Nursing advances health and social justice by educating nurses to be leaders; generating, translating and applying nursing knowledge; and informing and influencing health-related public policy, practice and planning.
Contact: keisha.jefferies@dal.ca