Infusing Geropsychiatric Nursing into Curricula - Resources for Teaching Key Concept III.C. (Approach to Older Adults: Recognition of Personal and Societal Biases)
Biases most often occur in the presence of unfounded assumptions about a particular group of persons. Unrecognized bias may negatively impact care. Societal bias against aging as well as stigma of mental illness and substance misuse compound the likelihood that older adults with mental and cognitive health problems are likely to experience bias. For example, some may view such patients as ‘difficult’ or ‘troublesome.’ All too often, biases result in a failure to act on the behalf of the patient. Nurses must first recognize and confront personal and societal biases, often expressed through labeling, and then work to preclude their negative influence on mental health promotion, screening, assessment and treatment for older adults.
This product contains resources that address the following:
- Dementia
- Restraints
Increase awareness of personal and societal biases and their influence on caring for older adults with mental illness.
Each of the 27 products based on the Key Concepts provides access to curriculum/teaching materials to assist faculty to infuse the geropsychiatric nursing competency enhancements into course objectives, teaching strategies, didactic content, and/or clinical experiences of relevant educational programs. These include entry level and advanced practice nursing programs in psychiatric-mental health, adult/gerontological, family, women’s health or acute care, or stand-alone geropsychiatric nursing or continuing education courses. The resources may be adapted for use with a range of learners, as indicated in each description. Each resource has been identified as appropriate to teaching the Key Concept and is described in detail.