Implicit Bias in Nursing

Course overview

Implicit bias can affect how healthcare professionals interpret symptoms, assess credibility, communicate with patients, document behavior, and decide when to escalate clinical concerns. This nursing-focused course examines the historical and present-day consequences of bias in healthcare and provides practical strategies for supporting equitable, respectful, and evidence-based care. Learners will examine nursing scenarios involving pain, maternal health, substance-use stigma, disability, language access, health literacy, documentation, and patient advocacy. A practical PAUSE framework will help nurses distinguish observable clinical information from assumptions and apply consistent assessment, communication, documentation, and escalation practices.