In community healthcare settings, a range of difficulties exists that obstruct the delivery of culturally appropriate treatment. Implicit and stereotypes bias are among them. Healthcare practitioners, on the other hand, typically consider themselves to be prejudiced against their patients. However, because healthcare workers are human, mistakes do occur. Implicit prejudice and stereotypes inadvertently interfere with the action, decisions unconsciously, and understanding (Bucknor-Ferron, 2016). These problems can result in uneven care in community health care. It is critical to recognize these difficulties before attempting to fix them.

In the community healthcare context, there are a variety of techniques for identifying stereotypes and unconscious bias. First, community nurses must examine themselves to recognize their ideas and values, contributing to unconscious prejudice. Second, nurses can detect preconceptions and unconscious prejudice by discussing cultural differences with their patients. One of the reasons for unconscious prejudice is this. They will be able to overcome it after recognizing the contributing elements. Thirdly, including sensitivity training and the prevalence of implicit bias in community healthcare facilities into the official curricula for community nurses will improve bias detection in healthcare (Bucknor-Ferron, 2016).

Nurses must address the issues listed above to ensure that health promotion initiatives are culturally appropriate. First, the nurses must talk about the problem or have conversations about it. This aid nurses in accepting that a problem exists and accepting ownership and responsibility for making a difference (Bucknor-Ferron, 2016). Nurses can also combat unconscious prejudice and stereotypes by practicing positive behaviors like empathy.

This enables nurses to understand better the patient’s condition, beliefs, and values to provide unbiased healthcare services. Furthermore, establishing training sessions might aid in the promotion of bias literacy (Persaud, 2019). This method enables healthcare practitioners to detect the problem, develop their cultural competency abilities, and better understand their role in addressing it. As a result of the techniques mentioned above, nurses will be able to provide culturally appropriate care.

References

Bucknor-Ferron, P., & Zagaja, L. (2016). Five strategies to combat unconscious bias. Nursing2020, 46(11), 61-62.

Persaud, S. (2019). Addressing unconscious bias: A nurse leader’s role. Nursing administration quarterly, 43(2), 130-137.

Recognizing Bias, Stereotypes, and Implicit Bias in a Community.

Professions, must wary of any negative evaluation they make on a certain group of people, race, religion, and ethnic (FitzGerald & Hurst 2017). Biases are evident in vulnerable populations. Cases such as low self-esteem, avoiding eye contact during patient-nurse interaction, malnourishment, laxity, and low turn out to health facilities, indicates bias stereotypes and implicit bias in a community.  Stress is also being an indicator of consequences are in diseases such as high blood pressure, obesity, cancer, and death and damaging behaviours such as poor sleep, smoking, and substance abuse.

A nurse needs to overcome this and be the advocate for their patients. He or she is the voice to the patient who cannot speak for themselves and the health of their loved ones. The advocacy skill can be the positive influence that allows patients to feel empowered and in control of their health.

Personal awareness is an inward compass directing us on how to perceive others in our daily interactions. It helps recognize acceptable and unacceptable attitudes and behaviour and stay on the ground (Young & Guo 2020). Enhanced knowledge is central to raising awareness and promotes a good atmosphere for patient healthcare workers. They also understand their rights and foster equality in health care delivery. Acknowledgment of pre-existing problems brings acceptability and accountability to make the change.

Conclusion

From the findings, the healthcare professional must be liberal because of the variety of patients they meet. There is a need for a change of attitude and general assumption of particular ethnicities, especially in service delivery. It ensures equity and quality care in people from different backgrounds.

References

FitzGerald, C., & Hurst, S. (2017). Implicit bias in healthcare professionals: a systematic review. BMC medical ethics, 18(1), 19.

Young, S., & Guo, K. L. (2020). Cultural diversity training: The necessity of cultural competence for health care providers and in nursing practice. The health care manager, 39(2), 100-108.

It is understandable when one finds it hard to admit they might be biased toward some patients, but it happens. The best approach to fixing implicit bias is to recognize it and then constantly reassess how one feels and whether their approach is working. Acknowledging your own biases means acknowledging that you may have feelings about a specific population or a person/group in that population that needs to be dealt with so that you can provide the best possible care.

People may assume specific characteristics, behaviors, or beliefs about a patient based on regional inflections, job status, or language barriers, all of which can lead you to disagree with those assumptions. I agree that nurses must never allow personal judgment about the patient’s actions to sway how the patient is treated. To detect prejudice, nurses should be aware of their assumptions (Medina-Martínez et al., 2021). For example, a patient’s race, accent, dress style, or general look might cause them to make an initial judgment. I agree that acknowledging cultural differences might assist you in identifying and reversing any prejudice you may be harboring.

Reference

Medina-Martínez, J., Saus-Ortega, C., Sánchez-Lorente, M. M., Sosa-Palanca, E. M., García-Martínez, P., & Mármol-López, M. I. (2021). Health inequities in LGBT people and nursing interventions to reduce them: a systematic review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(22), 11801.

I agree with you that some people may be bias without knowing. Other may use stereotypical remarks and gesture to provoke others. Biased remarks and behaviors attract mixed reactions (Johnson, 2019). Unfortunately, some people may be offended when they are downgraded due to their race, social status, and gender. Inherent bias is a subconscious human trait. Therefore, other people may have limited control over inherent bias.

Other people may acquire the character from their immediate environment (Dos Santos, 2020). However, most healthcare organizations create bias-free workplace. Stakeholders understand the effect of discrimination and favoritism. Language barriers and social status may trigger profiling that may in turn cause bias. Physical experience may cause racial stereotyping and prejudice that may interfere the relationship between patients and caregivers. Educating nurses on embracing diversity will be a positive step towards preparing a relatable healthcare provider.

References

Dos Santos, L. M. (2020). I teach nursing as a male nursing educator: The East Asian perspective, context, and social cognitive career experiences. International journal of environmental research and public health, 17(12), 4327.  https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17124327

Johnson, S. L. (2019). Workplace bullying, biased behaviours and performance review in the nursing profession: A qualitative study. Journal of clinical nursing, 28(9-10), 1528-1537.  https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.14758

It can be hard to admit you might be biased toward some of your patients, but it happens, and the best approach to fixing implicit bias is to recognize it and then constantly reassess how you feel and how your approach is working. Inherent bias is a subconscious human trait and frequently interferes with best nursing practices (Quinn-Sczesuil, 2018). Recognizing an inherent bias means that you understand you might have certain feelings about a specific population, a person’s or groups appearance, or mannerisms that need to be addressed and dealt with to provide the best possible care.

Implicit bias exists in health care settings and impacts quality and equity of care. Language barriers, job status, or regional inflections can cause people to assume a patient has certain traits, behaviors, or beliefs that you might not agree with. We often notice that feeling when trying to explain treatments to a patient, when responding to their needs, or when dealing with an extended and involved family. We all know these patients or family members, they have googled their symptoms and know exactly what it is wrong with them and what we as nurses should be doing for them.

You might find there are certain accents, specific items of clothing, or ways of speaking that cause you to tag someone with undeserved qualities. A patient’s race, accent, clothing style, or appearance can spark an instant judgment in you. Do you hold back certain levels of compassion for patients who are more short-tempered? Do you assume low standards in a disheveled, unkempt patient? Does someone’s race affect how you see them?

An implicit bias is not only harmful because it is undeserved, but it can also lead to disparities in care. Even if you are unaware of how you are feeling, your body language, focused attention, and the level of care you provide can be impacted directly by the way you are feeling. Each patient deserves a nurses’ full care, so understanding what might trigger you to act differently will make you a better nurse.

It is crucial to relinquish our personal opinions or preconceived notions about “certain” patients like drug users/seekers because it may prove to be the difference between a misdiagnosis or an epic save. As health care professionals, we see patients at their worst. These individuals are giving up a hidden past that may be unknown to their spouse or dearest friend. They may be sharing their darkest secret in hopes of us diagnosing and treating their complaint.

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So, we must be diligent and set aside our pride and opinions to provide care that is based solely on the case at hand and not by public opinion. Listen to the patient; do not just hear him or her. Gather the patient’s backstory or social history, which can be helpful in formulating potential differential diagnoses. Nurses must never allow personal judgment about the patient’s actions sway how the patient is treated. Health care professionals are not the judge and the jury, instead, we are the detectives that collect the evidence and build the case (Wagner, 2015).

Talking with patients is a good way to learn more about them. Understanding cultural differences can also help you become aware of any unconscious bias and begin to overcome it. We all have a bias, but talking about implicit bias opens the conversation, removes the taboo, and paves the way for better patient care and outcomes. When nurses are able to address this topic in an open and nonjudgmental manner, everyone benefits.

References

Quinn-Szcesuil, J. (2018). Recognizing implicit bias in health care settings. Minority Nurse. Retrieved July 05, 2022 from https://www.minoritynurse.com/recognizing-implicit-bias-inhealth-care-settings/

Wagner, A. (2015). Implicit bias can be deadly. Minority Nurse. Retrieved July 05, 2022 from https://www.minoritynurse.com/implicit-bias-can-be-deadly/