AACN Diversity Symposium Poster Showcase

Addressing Nursing Student Bias in Simulation: Diversity of Patients with Substance Use Disorder


Topic: Successful strategies for recruitment, hiring, retention and promotion of underrepresented minority faculty
Category: Research

Background/Introduction: Current healthcare literature indicates the presence of bias towards patients dealing with substance use disorder (SUD), including stereotypes regarding socioeconomic status, race, gender, and other demographic factors.

Purpose: This presentation will address the questions: What demographic factors do nursing students believe to be correlated with substance use disorder? To what degree will the students’ knowledge, attitudes, and nursing care of patients with SUD be affected by these beliefs?

Methods or Processes/Procedures: This study was completed in four steps. First, students were surveyed regarding what demographic factors they believe are correlated with the presence of SUD. Students then participated in a high-fidelity simulation with either a) a male, black, lower economic status patient with limited formal education and history of mental illness and IV drug use or b) an Asian, middle-class, employed 7th grade teacher with a Master’s degree and no mental health comorbidity but a history of alcohol and oral opioid abuse. Demographics of simulated patients were drawn from the student survey responses that were most positively correlated (black, low economic, etc.) and negatively correlated (Asian, middle class, etc.) with the presence of SUD. Third, students participated in a guided debriefing regarding the effect of social determinants of health on SUD and diversity in patient populations diagnosed with SUD. Finally, the survey was re-administered to determine any changes to students views regarding demographics associated with SUD.

Results: Comparison of pre- and post-simulation surveys indicate that the simulation and debriefing did assist in broadening the students’ perception of diversity in patient populations living with SUD.

Limitations: Limitations to this study include small sample size and lack of diversity in the student sample.

Conclusions/Implications for Practice: Implications for teaching practice include addressing implicit and explicit bias in nursing simulation, how biases may affect patient care, and the importance of self-reflection in providing inclusive care.


Miranda Cashio
MA, MSN, CCRN, CNEn


Biography

Miranda Cashio, MA, MSN RN is an ER nurse and Instructor of Nursing at UVA Wise. Her educational interests include high acuity nursing care, simulation, and concepts of DEI in nursing. She is always working on enhancing her students’ clinical judgement, critical thinking, and real-world application of nursing knowledge.
Renee Stanley, MSN RN has 30 years of nursing experience with a clinical concentration in Adult Intensive Care and Public Health Nursing. She has been an educator at both the Associate and Baccalaureate degree level and is currently an Instructor of Nursing and the Simulation Coordinator at UVA Wise.


Email: mjc9cp@uvawise.edu

Co-Author(s)
Renee Stanley, MSN RN