The Diversity Scholarship for 2024 from the University of Skövde has been awarded to Linda Sjökvist for her nursing final project. Her study examines nurses’ experiences in assessing conditions like rashes on melanin-rich skin. "It is a great honor to receive this scholarship, and it’s important to highlight the knowledge gap in healthcare education in this area," Linda stated.
The University of Skövde annually awards the Diversity Scholarship, which was presented during the graduation ceremony on November 23. The scholarship recognises students who have excelled in exploring diversity-related topics in their final project. Linda, a former nursing student, completed her project during her final semester, titled: “Is Prehospital Care in Sweden Equal? – A Study on Nurses’ Experiences of Assessing Melanin-Rich Skin.”
"The number of patients with darker skin tones is increasing in Swedish healthcare. I’ve realised that nurses working in ambulances face challenges in making accurate assessments of darker skin because signs like pallor and rashes appear differently compared to lighter skin. By the end of my nursing education, this topic had not been covered. That made me reflect on Sweden’s diversity today and become curious about nurses’ experiences in assessing melanin-rich skin."
Inequality in Healthcare
For her study, Linda interviewed ten nurses working in ambulance services across central and northern Sweden.
"It became clear that there is a lack of knowledge about darker skin tones, and none of the nurses had received specific training on the subject during their education. Interviewing nurses working in ambulances was important to me because they are first on the scene, and it’s vital for them to have this knowledge when assessing patients."
Linda found that gaps in nursing education contribute to clinical uncertainty when treating patients with darker skin tones.
"When I wrote on my final project, I wasn’t thinking about the scholarship, but I’m deeply honoured to receive it. I feel it’s vital to highlight that this knowledge is missing and not taught in basic nursing education. Considering Sweden’s diverse population, I sincerely hope this gap is addressed. My main question was whether healthcare in Sweden is truly equal, as the law requires. This knowledge gap means Sweden doesn’t currently provide equal care, but it’s something we can improve."
Motivation
The 2024 Diversity Scholarship was awarded to Linda Sjökvist for her final nursing project , “Is Prehospital Care in Sweden Equal? – A Study on Nurses’ Experiences of Assessing Melanin-Rich Skin.”
In her research, Linda explores how nurses assess patients with darker skin tones in an increasingly multicultural society. This is a critical issue for achieving equitable healthcare, as insufficient knowledge about skin assessments can compromise care quality and patient safety.
By highlighting both nurses’ experiences and current research, Linda’s study underscores the need for skill development among healthcare professionals to ensure safe and inclusive care for all patients, regardless of skin colour. Her work reflects societal changes, where increasing diversity requires new solutions and methods in healthcare.
The insights Linda provides through her thesis are highly valuable, both for educating healthcare staff and improving practical care. She has demonstrated great independence and determination in producing a well-written, clear thesis that effectively addresses an urgent issue. Her work is both relevant and essential for the future of healthcare education and practice, making her a deserving recipient of the Diversity Scholarship.
Read the full thesis in DiVA
The thesis is written in Swedish but there is an English abstract.