Gag order laws threaten nursing education and health equity

• Published in: Journal of professional nursing Vol. 46; pp. 27 - 30
• Main Authors: Ehrlich, Olga, Izumi, Shigeko (Seiko), Bigger, Sharon E., Johnson, Lee Ann
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01-05-2023
• Subjects: Academic freedom; Delivery of Health Care; Education, Nursing; Faculty; Health disparities; Health Equity; Humans; Legislative gag orders; Nursing education; Professional autonomy; Racism - prevention & control; Professional autonomy; Nursing education; Health equity; Legislative gag orders; Academic freedom; Health disparities
• ISSN: 8755-7223; 1532-8481
• DOI: 10.1016/j.profnurs.2023.02.005

Since 2021, some state legislators have passed laws that limit what public institutions can teach about discrimination. The number of these laws, also called gag orders, is increasing despite a national outcry against racism, homophobia and transphobia, and other forms of discrimination. Many nursing and other professional healthcare organizations have recognized and published statements decrying racism in healthcare and calling for an increased focus on health disparities and advancing health equity. Similarly, national research institutions and private grant funders are funding health disparities research. Nursing and other faculty in higher education, however, are being gagged by laws and executive orders which prevent them from teaching and conducting research about historic and contemporary health disparities. This commentary seeks to highlight the immediate and long-term impact of academic gag orders and to encourage action in opposition of such legislation. Supported by professional codes of ethics and discipline-specific education, we present concrete activities readers can use to address gag order legislation and in doing so, protect patient and community health outcomes.
•A number of recent state laws forbid teaching about discrimination and racism.•These gag order laws put nursing faculty at risk for funding cuts and job loss.•Student impacts include violation of the right to essential nursing knowledge.•New nurse graduates in affected states will be unable to address health inequities.