nurse recognizes bias

1 postsRe: Topic 3 DQ 2

The nurse recognizes bias, stereotypes, and implicit bias within the community by spending time in the community and getting to know the individuals of that community.The nurse can do this by performing a community/public health assessment.During this assessment the nurse can learn and gain knowledge about the individuals’ in the community’s social, environmental, and cultural needs which must be addressed within this process as well (Community and Public Health:The Future of Health Care, 2018).

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, your focused attention, and your level of care can be impacted directly by the way you are feeling. Each patient deserves your full care, so understanding what might trigger you to act differently will make you a better nurse. One can start by knowing their patients, understanding cultural differences can also help you become aware of any unconscious bias and begin to overcome it.

Cultural competence can be defined as “developing an awareness of one’s own existence, sensations, thoughts, and environment without letting it have an undue influence on those from other backgrounds; demonstrating knowledge and understanding of the client’s culture; accepting and respecting cultural differences; adapting care to be congruent with the client’s culture,” (Neese, 2017).A nurse should address these concepts of bias, stereotypes, and implicit bias to ensure health promotion activities are culturally competent showing cultural awareness, cultural knowledge, cultural skill, having cultural encounters, and having cultural desire (Neese, 2017).These five elements describe the Campinha Bacote cultural framework model. This model is regarded as a prominent guide for cultural competence in nursing and may occur in the process of becoming culturally competent (Community and Public Health:The Future of Health Care, 2018).

As a nurse the strategies I can use to reduce bias is notice my assumptions and understand what assumptions trigger me. Get to know my patient by talking to them. “Understanding cultural differences can also help you become aware of any unconscious bias and begin to overcome it” (Quinn-Szcesuil, 2018). “The Minority Nurse” is a magazine and a website that focuses on minorities in health care. The magazine and website have different articles on cultural competencies. A nurse can go to https://minoritynurse.com to research articles about cultural competencies.