almost certainly earn us the stereotypical label of "the angry black woman."
I share my story not for sympathy, but for understanding. Every day,
all over the country, patients and colleagues get treated differently
because of their skin color, nationality, culture, sexuality or other
characteristics that exclude them from the majority. Facilities that
welcome and woo professionals from minority populations broaden
their talent pools and make their facilities more attractive to diverse
patients. Facilities that embrace patients who are different guarantee
their spots for the future, as minorities make up an ever-larger portion
of the population.
In my case, I was blessed to have 2 notable supervisors who saw my
potential, mentored me and valued me for who I am. Buoyed by their
support and my determination, I resolved to do 2 things. First, keep
pressing forward, fueled by the desire to be a good example to my
children and be the change I want to see in the world. Second, be true
to myself and stay positive toward all.
I feel extremely blessed. I earned my MBA and was appointed direc-
tor at a large children's and women's hospital. I'm now working on my
doctorate of nursing practice, with a nurse executive focus. This
April, I was thrilled and honored to be elected to AORN's national
board of directors.
Diversity is one of AORN's core values, and I'm very happy that
Outpatient Surgery Magazine is publishing this issue on diversity in
health care. I also look forward to the day when such things are no longer
necessary. Not that far in the future, everyone will be a member of a
minority. It's my dream that one day my kids will live in a world like that
of my childhood, where somehow we knew to celebrate our differences
while always remembering that underneath we are all the same.
OSM
6 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 9
Ms. Archer (nmarcher@texaschildrens.org) is director of perioperative servic-
es in the Pavilion for Women at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston.
