Module Pre-Assessments are your opportunity to practice applying module content before final submission of your Competency Assessment. Your final Competency Assessment is written. Therefore, you may choose to write your Pre-Assessment responses here in paragraph form or as another type of deliverable. Consider what would be most helpful for you.

For your Module 1 Pre-Assessment, identify bias in a specific scenario. Listen to the audio scenarios and respond to the four questions in the Bias Scenario handout.

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SOLUTION to XA3003: Module 1 Pre-Assessment Submission.

Bias Scenario

1. In the break room conversation, identify at least three statements that clearly demonstrate bias or prejudice. Explain why these statements reflect bias and which specific group or characteristic they target.

In the provided audio scenario, there are examples of subtle and overt bias present in the break room conversation between nurses. The first statement that presents bias is by the female speaker, “Admin is now on a kick to try and hire more minorities to make a more diverse work environment.” This directs attacks toward ethnic minorities, suggesting that equal opportunity measures are unneeded or inconvenient. Second, the comment by the male speaker, “Yeah, I saw her, but she does not look gay. I mean, she looks feminine to me with her pink shoes. Maybe her wife is the man,” demonstrates prejudices in relation to the LGBTQ+ population by employing stereotype regarding how people of particular sexual orientations should groom themselves. Lastly, is the comment by the male speaker, “So many do not speak English as a first language. And if they do, I cannot understand it,” evokes discrimination towards non-native English speakers, aiming at those whose native language is other than English and reinforcing the stereotype that these people are hard to comprehend.

2. Point out an instance of subtle bias in the conversation. How does the statement perpetuate stereotypes or assumptions about certain groups? Discuss why these subtle biases might be just as harmful as more overt expressions of bias.

An example of more subtle bias is a statement by a female nurse, “I have been so impressed, though, with our new Black OR manager. She is very articulate and seems to be fitting in well.” Though meant as a compliment, this perpetuates the harmful stereotype that black people are less eloquent or less capable. Setting lower expectations for individuals based on attributes like race can negatively impact how they are perceived and treated.

3. The nurses in the scenario have expressed bias in many of their statements. How might the bias of the nurses impact social determinants of health and quality care?

Prejudices by nurses can directly influence the aspects of social determinants of health and quality of care. For instance, prejudice against the homosexuals, people of color, and those who speak other languages rather than English may lead to discrimination manifested by unfair treatment or lack of clear communication resulting in poorer health outcomes for these groups. For example, a nurse who holds prejudices against LGBTQ+ individuals might consciously or unconsciously provide less compassionate care, thus leading to a decrease in the willingness of the patient to seek care or share important health information. Further, prejudice against those who do not speak English fluently may lead to misunderstandings that affect patient well-being and treatment effectiveness. Marcelin et al. (2019) underscore that bias, even in subtle forms, can make people feel unwelcome or cause their needs to be disregarded due to perceptions about their sexuality and other attributes rather than being judged on individual character or medical needs alone. This undermines ethics of providing equitable, compassionate care to all. As such scholars such as Carter et al. (2020) postulate that to reduce the risk of further entrenching social disadvantage in healthcare and inequality, it is necessary to draw attention to prejudice sensitively, and encourage cultural diversity to minimize prejudice’s impact.

4. Imagine you were present in the break room during this conversation. How would you respond to at least one of the biased statements? Outline at least three strategies you could use to address bias and prejudice constructively, fostering a more inclusive and respectful environment in the workplace.

If I were present during this conversation, I would address the statement, “She does not look gay. I mean, she looks feminine to me with her pink shoes,” by calmly pointing out that sexual orientation cannot be determined by appearance. I would explain that such assumptions can be harmful and create an unwelcoming environment for LGBTQ+ individuals. In order to address bias in a constructive manner, I would first start the discussion that encourages and supports diversity, equity, and inclusion, thus making my colleagues realize the role they play in creating biased behaviors. Second, I would call for scheduling of some training on cultural competence for all staff as a way of making sure all the staff members are in a position to effectively and appropriately engage the diverse populations (Carter et al., 2020). Third, I would implement peer support group to exchange experiences and solutions to reduce prejudices and organizational climate improvement. The above strategies would therefore help in developing a conducive environment that fully supports diversity as well as inclusion in nursing practice.

References

Carter, E. R., Onyeador, I. N., & Lewis Jr, N. A. (2020). Developing & delivering effective anti-bias training: Challenges & recommendations. Behavioral Science & Policy, 6(1), 57-70. https://doi.org/10.1177/237946152000600106

Marcelin, J. R., Siraj, D. S., Victor, R., Kotadia, S., & Maldonado, Y. A. (2019). The impact of unconscious bias in healthcare: how to recognize and mitigate it. The Journal of Infectious Diseases, 220(Supplement_2), S62-S73. https://doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiz214

Walden University, LLC. (2023). Bias scenario audio clips [Audio]. Walden University Brightspace. https://mytempo.instructure.com