Purpose: Discrimination against ethnic minority nursing staff is a serious concern in healthcare and the COVID-19 pandemic has brought it to the forefront. The purpose of this survey study was to investigate the predictive relationship among discrimination experiences, resource availability, health and work outcomes among ethnic minority nursing staff during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Design/methodology/approach: A survey was conducted among ethnic minority nursing staff in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic. Respondents were asked to report their experiences of discrimination, perceived social support, resilience, health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and teamwork value using previously validated instruments. Sequential regression analysis was conducted to address the study aim.
Findings: The respondents reported that discrimination occurred both in the workplace and on public transit and could take various forms, from verbal harassment to physical assault. Discrimination experience and resource availability, including resilience and social support, were predictive of HRQoL.
Practical implications: Managers and administrators are urged to promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace and provide resources to support resilience and social support of ethnic minority nursing staff.
Originality/value: The findings suggested that discrimination and racism manifest subtly in various forms and occur everywhere. The study contributes to the limited level of understanding of the vulnerable populations framework in the context of ethnic minority nursing staff and workplace outcomes. It also provides evidence about the impacts of discrimination on ethnic minority nursing staff during the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Keywords: Discrimination; Ethnic minorities; Nursing; Resilience; Social support; Teamwork.
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