The Unwinding of DEI in Nursing is Not Up for Discussion. Here's How Leaders Are Preserving It.

During a time of extreme scrutiny, nursing's commitment to diversity and health equity remains, but how do healthcare leaders preserve the spirit of DEI when the very terminology has been weaponized?

Welcome to the HealthLeaders July 2025 cover story. Each month, our editors dive into the topics that matter most—such as healthcare innovation, leadership strategies, and patient care—delivered in a dynamic, engaging format.

What did we look at this month? It's all about diversity, equity, and inclusion's (DEI) role in healthcare.

Seems like a no-brainer in healthcare (and especially nursing) right?

Well, since the beginning of the year, stark criticism and negative connotations of the concept of DEI has swept throughout the country, pushed largely by the Trump Administration and their constituents.

In fact, multiple executive orders on the topic have sparked chaos across hospitals and health systems, many of which rely on federal funds to support community-based DEI initiatives, training, and leadership pathways. Now, pending legal challenges to the EOs and some key provisions, legal teams scramble to determine the line between compliance and conscience.

But here’s the truth no one can scrub from a statute: nurses still show up every day to care for patients from every walk of life. They see the disparities. They feel the gaps. They know that representation, cultural humility, and inclusive environments aren’t political—they’re essential.

So, if the playbook has been stripped away, what’s next? How do nurse leaders preserve the spirit of DEI when the very terminology has been weaponized?

The future of equitable care hangs in the balance—and some CNOs are stepping up to lead through the uncertainty. Our CNO editor G Hatfield has this month's story.