Overview
Let’s start with taking some time to reflect upon our identities and our social positionality.
These aspects of ourselves shape our perceptions (or the lens through which we see) including in our professional field of nursing to determine how we relate to health, healing, and disease.
It is important to be self-aware regarding our worldviews and perceptions. This helps us understand what we bring to the interactions we have with patients and colleagues and is foundational to the work of addressing health equity.
The “identity” exercise (linked below) provides a structure for considering aspects of our identity and our positionality. Several reflection questions help us go deeper to consider how these shape our experiences and also our views on health and wellness.
As you engage in these self-reflection exercises, know that it’s ok to not know or to feel uncomfortable or awkward. Take some time and be honest with yourself. Every single one of us is on a journey of personal and professional growth and it’s ok to be wherever we are on the path.
Assignment Objectives
Clarify significant aspects of personal identity and relative positionality
Reflect upon how our unique “lens” shapes our worldview and perspectives related to race and racism as well as health and wellness