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

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.

Genesis of the Committee’s Name: HPNA chose the name of the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Committee because in striving to uphold the values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and creating a sense of belonging, we aim to create an organizational culture in which people of all identities and backgrounds feel welcome and engage with the association.

Key Definitions

Ally

“Someone who makes the commitment and effort to recognize their privilege (based on gender, class, race, sexual identity, etc.) and work in solidarity with oppressed groups in the struggle for justice” (https://guides.library.georgetown.edu/antiracism/glossary). 

Allyship

“An ethical duty through intentional interventions, advocacy, and support to eliminate harmful acts, words, or deeds and create 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 actively seeks to understand how racism functions in their society and takes steps to end racial inequities, such as racism in health care” (Nursing License Map, 2022). “Awareness involved with being anti-racist includes a conscious decision to make frequent, consistent, equitable choices daily” (https://guides.library.georgetown.edu/antiracism/glossary).

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, who they are, or what they need” (Seven Dancers Coalition, Akwesasne, New York; partial definition derived from the indigenous teachings of the Māori nurses of New Zealand). 

Health Equity

Health equity in hospice and palliative care refers to access to unbiased high-quality care and services for all individuals facing serious illness. This encompasses ensuring that patients receive culturally sensitive care; have access to appropriate symptom management, emotional support, and spiritual care; and are able to make informed decisions about their care.  

Structural Racism

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

Resources

HPCC HPNA DEIB Style Guide
Training and Education

To support the training and education of nurses and other health care workers, included in this section are resources specific to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging and anti-racism work in hospice and palliative care nursing.

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
What's In a Name

About our Work

Recent Events
2025 (Joint AAHPM and HPNA Committee Session)

Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association and the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM) hosted a shared DEIB session at the 2025 Annual Assembly in Denver, CO.

History

DEIB Timeline of Events
HPNA DEIB Milestone Events

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