Unpacking Unconscious Bias in Healthcare
By Georgia Reiner
Barriers to health equity can take many forms – from the individual
who may be too intimidated by the prospect of a language barrier to seek necessary care to a patient who is wrongfully judged or dismissed because of race or even clothing . The impact these barriers can have on an individual ’ s health and wellness can be profound .
Biases influence provider-patient interactions , policies and procedures , and systems every day in healthcare facilities across the country , contributing to the growing wellness gap in the United States . Nurses entering their careers can be part of the solution by committing to understand the unique needs of diverse patient populations ; this commitment helps ensure that patients ’ individual health requirements are met . To do so , nurses must understand the unconscious biases that may creep into their work and take steps to eliminate them in their daily lives .
Many African American , or Black , people have reported that their health concerns have not been taken seriously by healthcare professionals ( Schencker , 2020 ). For example , in the United States , Black women are three to four times more likely to die during or after childbirth than white women , making Black maternal mortality rates in the United States comparable to such countries as Mexico and Uzbekistan with significant poverty rates ( Roeder , 2019 ). Although these complex racial disparities in the healthcare system have a great impact on women from lower socioeconomic backgrounds , they are also known to impact superstars like Serena Williams and Beyoncé ( American Heart Association News , 2019 ). Studies show that other groups of people like Indigenous Americans , Latinos , and other minorities may also receive lower standards of care due to biases among healthcare professionals ( Shepherd , 2018 ).
Recognizing Microaggressions in Discrimination Microaggressions – defined as subtle , indirect , and often unintentional statements or acts that are racist or otherwise prejudiced – are forms of bias that contribute to this public health issue . As nurses work to build a safer environment and care for Black , Indigenous Americans , and other racial and cultural minority patients , they must be able to recognize microaggressions and act against them
18 NSNA IMPRINT n NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2020 n www . nsna . org