Implementation of Cultural Awareness and Cognitive Bias Training Within Graduate Nursing Programs

Abstract

Background:

Cognitive bias negatively affects patient outcomes, resulting in medical errors, sentinel events, and legal claims. The brunt of bias-induced inequities and disparities has fallen on Black and Brown people, women, and the LGBTQ+ communities. Faculty training programs have rapidly increased in number, whereas student training has lagged.

Method:

A three-part curricular series was developed for students seeking nurse practitioner (NP) training. The series addressed racial bias, microaggression, and gender bias using vignettes and guided pre- and debriefing.

Results:

The series was initially implemented to 70 students from four different specialty areas of study. Students resoundingly reported the content as valuable and challenging and the environment as a safe space to learn, be vulnerable, and be empathetic to the experiences of others.

Conclusion:

This three-part series has been implemented across eight NP majors and has become a required component of the NP on-campus intensive experience. [J Nurs Educ. 2024;63(X):XXX–XXX.]