Tag: implicit bias

Health Disparities: What Can Nurse Educators Do?

By Susan Sportsman, PhD, RN, ANEF, FAAN

Today’s professional literature and the popular press are full of reports of health disparities throughout our country. The results of these disparities place a terrible toll on the health and well-being of patients and caregivers alike. In addition, the economic impact is significant. Certainly, these problems must be addressed. Yet, what role do Nurse Educators play in reducing these disparities? Continue reading “Health Disparities: What Can Nurse Educators Do?”

Implicit Bias: Does it Impact Nursing Education?

By Susan Sportsman, PhD, RN, ANEF, FAAN

Our responses to others are influenced by many factors, some of which are attributable to our own thoughts, experiences and emotions, and some that reflect our responses to the behavior of others.  As educators, we bring those thoughts, experiences, and emotions to our interactions with students.  We are called to react positively to all our students, assessing them objectively and providing appropriate challenges for their strengths and support for their weaknesses.  This is a lofty goal and one that is often hard to do. One reason for this difficulty—although certainly not the only one—is the impact of our own biases, particularly those that are implicit.  In fact, concern over the role that implicit biases play in all aspects of our lives is a “hot topic” in both the scientific literature and popular culture. Continue reading “Implicit Bias: Does it Impact Nursing Education?”