Nursing, Social Justice, and Health Inequities: A Critical Analysis of the Theory of Emancipatory Nursing Praxis

ANS Adv Nurs Sci. 2023 Jul-Sep;46(3):249-264. doi: 10.1097/ANS.0000000000000445. Epub 2022 Aug 24.

Abstract

Walter's theory of emancipatory nursing praxis (ENP) was created to explore nurses' social justice-related transformational learning process. We analyzed the theory within the context of stigma-related health inequities faced by transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) people. The theory of ENP provides a theoretical framework to incorporate social justice in nursing practice, research, education, and policy. We also determined the theory bridges the gap in understanding the role of nurses in advancing social justice through embodied actions and social activism. The theory of ENP underscores the moral, ethical, and professional obligations for nurses to abolish health inequities for TGD people.