🧵 I am listening to the autobiography of Assata Shakur and thinking about the ways that nursing is complicit in surveillance, policing, and racism. I am struck by how nurses were complicit in torturing Ms. Shakur and how at least one nurse stood in the way of abuse. 1/
I am sitting with the ways that I have been complicit in policing my patients both intentionally and unintentionally. I am also sitting with the ways I have policed nursing students. I am disappointed and hopeful at the same time. 2/
This is why I believe that nurses must have education beyond how to provide hospital-based care. Nurses must learn to critically and deeply think, evaluate, and reflect. This understanding cannot just come from nurse educators who also need to broaden their understanding. 3/
I have learned so much by reading works from authors who are not nurses and listening to people who have different experiences and knowledge than me. I continue to learn each day. 4/
I am sorry for the errors I have made in my career. I was ignorant and followed what I was taught. Though I never abused anyone I said and did things that were not just. My apology does not change the experiences of people who I helped to marginalize though. 5/
I am to committed to continuously learning and growing so I can advocate for the people I serve and teach nursing students critical information that I was was not taught. This is my duty and privilege. 6/
Simply increasing my understanding is insufficient. I must act to change the future of nursing and the way nurses serve humanity. As my friend @NursePatMacRN said I must commit to having my practice in nursing serve as an act of justice. 7/7 
