Background <p>Despite efforts to reduce health disparities, racism is recognized as a global public health crisis. Addressing racism aligns with international healthcare policies and healthcare goals of promoting health justice. Nursing students, as future healthcare workers, are key to re-establish social patterns. This study aims to explore nursing students’ experiences of racism in healthcare and their perspectives on how such situations can be avoided.</p> Methods <p>Qualitative data were collected in two phases through written reflections upon case scenarios and individual interviews of nursing students. Data were analysed through an inductive content analysis approach.</p> Results <p>The data analysis led to developing one theme `there is an urgent need for ways to handle and prevent racism’ and four categories. Our results clearly reveal the presence of both overt and covert racism in healthcare, influencing professional integrity and patient rights. Racism in healthcare has a complex and multifaceted nature and an expectation that nurses respond to racist behaviour toward patients and colleagues is emphasized. However, it is difficult to identify racism and react in ‘real life’ than in a hypothetical situation. Reactions to racist behaviour depend on patient’s background and health condition. Sharing of experiences, increased knowledge of cultural sensitivity, and clear healthcare leadership are strategies that help with preventing racism in healthcare.</p> Conclusions <p>This study enhances international understanding of racism within healthcare, as experienced by nursing students. It underscores that racism is not always overt or easily identifiable. Also, nursing students often feel unprepared to respond effectively in real-life situations, underscoring the need for education and training on how to address racism in practice and thereby promote health justice.</p> Clinical trial number <p>Not applicable.</p>