Addressing Bias

NURSING
[Appraisal of implications and solutions to biases in nursing, specialty of education]
Eva Houston
Doctor Edmonds
Foundational Concepts and Applications
1/21/2018
Introduction
Since healthcare is second to the government, there has been conscious and unconscious biases (a prejudice towards something or someone) of healthcare professionals towards patients. For instances, racial biases have been implicated in a number of healthcare discrepancies due to unequal treatments of patients and colleagues (Clark, 1997). Nursing practice and patient outcomes have been affected by a number of prejudices such as; abortion, sexuality, racial discrimination, ethnicity, religion, and obesity. This issue has significantly compromised the quality of healthcare services given to patients in hospitals not to mention the health and economic repercussions we witnessed with the general population (Maslach & Jackson, 2013). This paper seeks to assess and find solutions to the biases in nursing practice, in the education specialty.
Discussion
Impacts of biases in nursing, education specialty
Racial and ethnic diversity in our world today is a significant bias that has dramatically impacted nursing in the line of education. The question of who should take the nursing training whether the blacks or the whites, women or men is a topic that has brought considerable controversy in both the training and practice of nursing. For instance, in education, you will find that men are reluctant to enroll in nursing school only due to the prevailing cultural biases.

That is, they have this fallacious thinking that it’s a profession belonging to women which gradually would result in gender imbalances in the profession (Clark, 1997). Again, there are some religions that prohibit artificial family planning methods and abortion. In a case where a nurse from such a doctrine is attending to a mother who needs an abortion due to a medical emergency, such may put the life of the patient in great danger. Not to mention racial and ethnic discrimination both at the training institutions and hospitals. For example, a student may miss an opportunity for admission just because of their ethnicity or a patient may fail to get proper health care due to their race.
Cultural practices such as circumcision may also be an issue when training nurses who might be biased by their cultural beliefs. The topic of sexuality and sexual orientation is highly controversial when it comes to the training and practicing of the nursing profession. As in training institutions, the trainers may be biased to train on how to handle transgender and homosexual patients (Clark, 1997). This may be a significant challenge when they start practicing as nursing professionals. When we are faced with such cases, we may not have any idea how to handle the situation. Certain people are prejudiced by the physical appearances of others. For example, obesity, where certain institutions may decline to admit obese students (Maslach & Jackson, 2013). Also, individual practicing nurses may be biased while dealing with transgender patients compromising the health and well-being of these patients (Clark, 1997).
Personal biases and attitudes
Most of the time, we find ourselves biased due to our human nature or even our histories. For instance, one may see themselves having this implicit bias towards people from various cultures and beliefs. It is awful when we are not acknowledged hurting someone else. It is basically due to an association outside of one’s conscious awareness that leads to an adverse assessment of a situation or person based on extraneous physiognomies (Clark, 1997).
How to reduce biases in the nursing profession.
From the above findings, the implications of predispositions in the nursing profession have a major impact on the welfare of the general population. It is essential that these issues are promptly addressed. Specifically, in the education specialty that comprises of the training of professionals that may be exposed to this type of problems. We must first eradicate biases when admitting our students into training institutions (Maslach & Jackson, 2013). Then, we must address these issues in the course of their training, for instance, teach students to be aware of both implicit and explicit biases. This affords can be achieved by re-visiting ethics in this field, and professional conduct. Also, teaching students on the emerging issues of the tremendously changing medical practices and technological advancements, for example, artificial insemination and surrogacy. These teaching practices will prepare students to be open-minded when making critical medical decisions such as; an emergency abortion when the life of a mother is in danger. Further, these teaching models will make students more prepared and open-minded when they perform clinical nursing in healthcare facilities. (Maslach & Jackson, 2013).
Conclusion
Concluding on the impact and resolutions of biases in nursing, as it relates a specialty of education, it is important to note the disparities of such prejudices, and how they impact the healthcare sector, and the society in general. Discrimination in healthcare whether it is based on the patient’s ethnicity, race or religion can cost them their lives. We must address these issues during the training stages of our nurses in teaching institutions. In the end, it might be vital to enlighten the members of the public on this same matter. I believe we will create awareness and avoid mistakes, and inappropriate conduct in our healthcare institutions. Therefore, by improving our attitudes in healthcare services, we can implement quality of life outcomes for all patients.
References
Clark, P. G. (1997). Values in Health Care Professional Socialization: Implications for Geriatric Education in Interdisciplinary Teamwork. The Gerontologist, 37(4), 441-451. doi:10.1093/geront/37.4.441
Gough, B., McFadden, M., & McDonald, M. (2013). Critical Health Psychology. Critical Social Psychology, 227-249. doi:10.1007/978-1-137-07242-9_8