Diversity in Health Care Video Series

End-of-Life Care Considerations for Individuals of Varying Faiths
End-of-Life Care for Muslim Patients

HPNA’s commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

The Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association (HPNA) is committed to improving diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging within the organization.

Mission: To facilitate thoughtful dialogue acknowledging the impact of systemic racism, discrimination, and bias, and to provide ongoing, timely support and resources for advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging across clinical, educational, training, research, and allyship activities within the organization.

Vision: HPNA sustains an inclusive and culturally safe organizational culture that upholds diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging as essential to its mission of advancing serious illness care for all.

Key Definitions

Allyship

“An ethical duty through intentional interventions, advocacy, and support to eliminate harmful acts, words, or deeds and creating space to amplify voices that are not traditionally heard, recognized, or welcomed” (National Commission to Address Racism in Nursing, Project ECHO, 2022)

Anti-Racism

“In practice, anti-racism combines awareness and action. Someone who is anti-racist is actively seeking to understand how racism functions in their society and takes steps to end racial inequities, such as racism in healthcare.” (Nursing License Map, 2022)

Cultural Safety

“Cultural safety means creating an environment that is spiritually, socially, emotionally, and physically safe for all people, where there is no denial of identity, of who they are, or what they need.” (Seven Dancers Coalition, Akwesasne, NY – partial definition derived from the indigenous teachings of the Māori nurses of New Zealand)

Structural Racism

“A system in which public policies, institutional practices, cultural representations, and other norms work in various, often reinforcing ways to perpetuate racial group inequity” (Aspen Institute, 2022)

Resources

HPNA DEIB Style Guide
Training and Education
Allyship

Allyship is at the core of anti-racism nursing practice. Clinicians and healthcare leaders play a key role in fostering a culture of allyship and anti-racism across all settings where hospice and palliative care nurses work. This section provides resources about allyship and how to be an effective ally.

Clinical

This section contains resources for clinical practice to guide hospice and palliative care nurses as they work to incorporate diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging for all in the work environment. These resources can serve as guidelines for delivering anti-racist, culturally safe, and inclusive care for the diverse populations our members serve.

Nursing Resource Guides in Spanish

HPNA’s Nursing Resource Guides (NRGs) are quick reference sheets offered in English and Spanish for clinicians on a variety of symptoms and topics. These on-the-go guides offer an overview of the symptoms, common causes, and interventional strategies. Access NRGs while in the field from your phone, tablet, or computer, or download and print them to have on hand.

Research

About our Work

Recent Events
This is a photo of DEIB Committee member Nancy Dias presenting at the 2024 Annual Assembly in front of a group of attendees.

The DEIB Committee recently hosted a showcase, HPNA DEIB Initiatives and Education, at the 2024 Annual Assembly in Phoenix, AZ.

The session offered an opportunity for attendees to discover the committee’s initiatives, strategies, and successes in promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within the hospice and palliative care landscape.

History

In 2021, the HPNA Board of Directors approved the development of a DEIB Task Force to help create a positive culture of inclusiveness with a long-term goal of enhancing the recruitment and retention of diverse members to HPNA’s board, staff, and membership.

This is an image of DEIB Committee members Komal Patel Murali and Nancy Dias at the 2024 Annual Assembly.

The DEIB Task Force was formed in September 2021. It consisted of 14 HPNA members, including two co-chairs, with experience or expertise in the development of organizational culture reflective of DEIB. Leadership representing the HPNA national office included the HPNA chief executive officer, the HPNA senior vice president of membership, and the HPNA director of operations. Guided by a detailed charter from the HPNA Board of Directors, the task force created and facilitated the adoption of the HPNA DEIB Style Guide. This style guide, the first of its kind in scope and scale, provides HPNA leadership and members with the most current guidance on widely accepted terminology used to describe and include minoritized groups. 

Two “cultural safety” subcommittees were formed to organize and complete the work designated by the charter. The first subcommittee focused on conducting an intensive review of all materials created by and used by HPNA, including the website, social media, and nursing resource guides. The second subcommittee conducted a review of educational, corporate, and nursing websites for DEIB content to identify potential ways to present DEIB content on the HPNA website. After reviewing the HPNA website, the subcommittee developed an HPNA DEIB webpage. In 2023, the task force transitioned into a committee. One of the committee’s roles will be collaboratively working with other HPNA committees and the HPNA Education Department to ensure that HPNA educational products and services meet the new standards adopted by HPNA.

2024 HPNA DEIB Committee Members

Komal Murali, PhD, RN, ACNP-BC
Chair

Nancy Dias, PhD, RN, MSN, FPCN
Chair Elect

Adrienne Jones-Adamczyk, MBE, RN, ACNP-BC ACHPN®, HEC-C

Malek Alnajar, MSN, CNS, RN

Kirsten Inducil Buen, RN, PhD

Katherine Doyon, PhD, MED, RN, CHPN®

Leah Estrada, PhD, RN

Jyotsana Parajuli, PhD, MGS, RN

Christy Torkildson

Christy Torkildson, PhD, RN, PHN, FPCN, HEC-C

Tomika Williams, PhD, AGNP-C, CDP

Matthew Selle, MS, BSN, RN, CHPN®, OCN

Past Committee Members

2023 HPNA DEIB Committee Members:

  • Komal Patel Murali (Chair)
  • Nancy Dias
  • Katherine Doyon
  • Mansara Hassan
  • Mary Isaacson
  • Matt Selle
  • Christy Torkildson

2021–2022 HPNA DEIB Task Force Members:

  • Masako Mayahara (Co-Chair)
  • Lolita Melhado (Co-Chair)
  • Ella Cullen
  • Nancy Dias
  • Katherine Doyon
  • Mansara Hassan
  • Todd Hultman
  • Mary Isaacson
  • Komal Patel Murali
  • William Rosa
  • Matt Selle
  • Tacy Silverberg Urian
  • Christy Torkildson

We Would Love Your Input

As you review the HPNA resources provided on this page, please let us know how we can do better or what we can add to further support DEIB within our organization.  

Complete the form below to share your feedback or success story.

Contact the DEIB Committee