Reports of Racism Against UK Nurses Jump 55% and the U.S. Isn’t Far Behind
- Reports of racist incidents against U.K. nurses have surged 55% in three years, according to the Royal College of Nursing.
- Nurses describe discrimination from coworkers, managers, and patients — from slurs to denied opportunities.
- The RCN is urging the government to end anti-migrant rhetoric and strengthen protections for healthcare staff.
- In the U.S., 63% of nurses report experiencing racism at work, highlighting a global issue impacting nurse wellbeing and patient safety.
Racism in nursing is still a major problem — not just in the U.K., but around the world. In the U.K., reports of racist incidents against nurses have risen 55% in the last three years, according to the Royal College of Nursing (RCN). The union says it expects to receive over 1,000 calls this year from nurses seeking help after experiencing racism on the job — up from nearly 700 in 2022.
Racism on the Job — and at the Bedside
Nurses shared painful stories of discrimination from both coworkers and patients.
- One nurse was denied time off and told by her manager she “shouldn’t have come to the U.K.”
- Another said a colleague told her, “You’re not one of us.”
- In another case, a patient’s family refused treatment from a nurse because they didn’t want “people like her” providing care.
- Another nurse reported being told you can only see “Black people’s teeth when it’s dark.”
For nurses working long shifts, managing heavy patient loads, and giving everything to their jobs, these comments cut deep. They’re not just hurtful — they make the workplace unsafe, demoralizing, and exhausting.
RCN Calls It a “Mark of Shame” and Anti-Migrant Rhetoric
Prof. Nicola Ranger, the RCN’s General Secretary and Chief Executive, called the rise in racism a “mark of shame” for the healthcare system.
“Every single ethnic minority nursing professional deserves to go to work without fear of being abused,” Ranger said. “If health and care employers fail to make their workplaces safe, it’s no surprise those same staff leave — and services end up dangerously understaffed.”
Ranger also called on the U.K. government to stop using anti-migrant rhetoric, warning that this kind of language encourages racist behavior toward immigrant healthcare workers.
“Our health system only works because nurses of every ethnicity, nationality, and faith make it work,” she said. The RCN is pushing employers to partner with unions and strengthen systems that protect nurses from discrimination and harassment.
Government Responds
A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care called the data “shocking” and said racism “will not be tolerated” in the NHS. They confirmed that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has ordered an urgent review of racism and discrimination across the healthcare system.
“We value the diversity of our NHS, which relies on the skill and dedication of nursing staff from all backgrounds,” the department said.
Racism in U.S. Nursing: The Same Story, Different System
Sadly, nurses in the U.S. face the same challenges. Racism in American healthcare remains widespread, underreported, and deeply harmful to nurses’ well-being and patient care.
- A 2022 American Nurses Association (ANA) survey of more than 5,600 nurses found that 63% had experienced racism at work, mostly from peers, patients, or supervisors. Many nurses described being called slurs, ignored during rounds, or passed over for promotions after speaking out against bias.
- A 2023 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation survey found that 88% of Black nurses and 86% of Asian nurses reported experiencing racism from patients. Many also faced microaggressions or overt discrimination from colleagues — yet fewer than one in four ever reported it, often out of fear of retaliation or believing nothing would change.
- Research published in 2025 shows that nurses who face racism at work experience higher burnout, depression, and job dissatisfaction. They’re more likely to leave the bedside or the profession altogether.
- Despite equal or higher educational attainment, nurses of color remain underrepresented in leadership roles, facing persistent barriers to advancement and inclusion. This imbalance affects everything — from workplace culture to policy decisions — and ultimately, patient care quality.
Just like in the U.K., the cycle is the same: when nurses don’t feel safe or valued, they leave. That means fewer experienced hands at the bedside, heavier workloads for those who stay, and a healthcare system that struggles to retain the people who keep it running.
A Global Problem That Demands Action
The parallels between the U.K. and the U.S. are clear. Across both healthcare systems, nurses of color are speaking out about racism, bias, and the lack of accountability in their workplaces.
Experts say solving the problem requires more than statements and surveys. Because whether it’s in London, Philadelphia, or Los Angeles — nurses deserve to feel safe, respected, and supported at work.
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