Health Equity Education for Washington Nurses

The Washington state Department of Health has stated that "health equity exists when all people can attain their full health potential. That means people aren't disadvantaged from achieving this potential because of the color of their skin, ancestry, level of education, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, religion, socioeconomic status, the job they have, the neighborhood they live in, or their disability status.

Equity and equality are not the same; equality gives everyone the same resources while equity gives people the resources they need. With equity, everyone has the same opportunities as others. Research shows that inequities are part of the health care system and have always existed."

In an effort to create health equity, the board of nursing and the state legislators have mandated that all healthcare professionals from the state complete health equity education. This course will identify how implicit bias affects the perception and treatment decisions of healthcare professionals, how this affects patient health outcomes, and provide solutions for overcoming implicit bias on both personal and systematic level, and directs the participant to take an honest evaluation of their own healthcare bias at the beginning and end of the course.

This online continuing nurse education fulfills the 2 contact hour health equity education requirements for healthcare providers in the state of Washington.

Questions? Check out our FAQs page and How Online IV Certification Works!

Objectives

Upon completion of this course, the participant will be able to:

  1. Define the health equity education requirement for nurses.
  2. List 2 examples of how implicit bias affects healthcare providers and patients.
  3. State 2 strategies for reducing implicit bias.
  4. Explain 2 methods for evaluating the presence and extent of implicit bias in the workplace. 

Curriculum

Chapter 1: What is Implicit Bias?

  • Washington State Rules for Health Equity Education
  • Implicit Bias Pre-test
  • Why Implicit Bias Exists

Chapter 2: Implications of Implicit Bias in Healthcare

  • Vulnerable Groups
  • Race and Ethnicity
  • Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation
  • Age
  • Disabilities, Mental Illness, and Addiction
  • Socioeconomic Status
  • Obesity and Overweight

Chapter 3: Methods of Evaluating the Presence and Extent of Implicit Bias

  • Assessment Standards Institute (ASI)
  • The Implicit Association Test (IAT)

Chapter 4: How to Reduce Implicit Bias

  • Become Aware of Your Implicit Biases
  • Educate and Immerse Yourself in Other Cultures
  • Improve Communications and Standards
  • Learn the Lingo
  • Engage in Meditation and Mindfulness
  • Practical Solutions for Healthcare Administrators to Promote Inclusion

Chapter 5: What are the Benefits of a Diverse Organization

  • Implicit Bias Post-Test

Chapter 6: References

Price: $20.00

Contact Hours: 2

Course Author

Kaitlin Rosetta

Kaitlin is a graduate of the University of North Texas and has a bachelor's degree in Risk, Insurance and Financial Services. She was a member of the National Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi and graduated Cum Laude.

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