Kentucky mandates nurse training on ‘structural racism’ and ‘white-splaining’.
The Kentucky Board of Nursing Mandates Implicit Bias Training for Nurses
The Kentucky Board of Nursing has recently implemented a new requirement for nurses to undergo an “implicit bias” course. This course aims to help nurses recognize the history of racism in healthcare and make positive changes in their behaviors and practices. Failure to complete the training by the specified deadline may result in disciplinary action.
Training Developed by the Kentucky Nurses Association
The mandatory continuing education training was developed by the Kentucky Nurses Association (KNA) and must be completed by all nurses by July 1. The KNA Board of Directors Treasurer, Arica Brandford, and KNA CEO, Delanor Manson, are responsible for delivering the training.
Rebecca Wall, a highly experienced certified registered nurse anesthetist in Kentucky, expressed her initial concerns about the training. She felt that the course unfairly labeled all nurses as racist and questioned whether she should comply. However, she ultimately decided to complete the training, despite the professional struggle it presented.
The training emphasizes that good intentions alone are not enough to address implicit bias in healthcare. It stresses the importance of understanding racism and bias as part of a larger conversation. One slide even includes a powerful image of Ku Klux Klan members burning a cross to highlight the historical context of racism.
Controversy and Concerns
Some nurses, like Laura Morgan, a program manager at the medical advocacy group Do No Harm, expressed concerns about the potential consequences of not completing the training. Morgan believes that disciplinary action could include non-renewal of a nurse’s license.
The Kentucky Board of Nursing, however, disputes these claims, stating that the training is required by regulation and failure to comply could result in civil sanctions or discipline. It is worth noting that the training coincides with the licensure and license renewal period.
The training also addresses different forms of racism, including overt and covert racism. It provides examples of both, such as lynching and public harassment, to help nurses understand the impact of these behaviors.
Furthermore, the training highlights the potential effects of implicit bias in healthcare. It suggests that racism can contribute to various health issues, including hypertension, maternal health complications, low birth weight, heart disease, diabetes, and mental health disorders.
Challenges and Criticisms
While some nurses appreciate the opportunity to learn and grow, others have voiced concerns about the ideological shift within the nursing profession. They argue that the changes, including mandatory implicit bias training and redefining terminology, make it harder for them to provide individualized care to patients.
Rebecca Wall believes that the push for this training comes from academics entrenched in woke ideology who may be disconnected from the realities of nursing practice. She feels that their influence is detrimental to the profession and hinders the ability to meet patients’ unique needs.
Wall wrote a letter to the American Nurses Association (ANA) expressing her concerns about the organization’s ideological shift but has not received a response. The ANA, the parent organization of the KNA, has not provided any comments on the matter.
Despite the controversy surrounding the training, it remains a requirement for nurses in Kentucky. Nurses are encouraged to complete the training and engage in meaningful discussions to promote positive change in healthcare.
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