Implicit bias and microaggressions are concepts from the field of social-cognitive psychology that have become widely discussed in popular culture. Understanding these concepts and how they relate to one another is critical to recognizing, explaining, and reducing workplace instances of unintentional stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination related to gender, race, ethnicity, and other social group categorizations. This session will help attendees understand what implicit cognition is through demonstrations of the helpful side of this normal brain function; then, we will explore how it leads microaggressions and other unfair biases within workplaces, with a particular focus on applications in healthcare contexts.

Nurse Learner Outcome: Following this educational presentation, 80% of the participants will report a knowledge gain of how implicit bias impacts the work environment and how to reduce the number of microaggessions in the workplace.

Learner Objectives:

1. Differentiate implicit and explicit cognition and demonstrate several ways our implicit cognitive system acts outside of conscious control to help us think quickly and efficiently.
2. Discuss research that suggests negative racial and gender category associations remain in our awareness and result in microaggressions toward others outside of conscious awareness or intention.
3. Explain, with examples, how implicit bias affects social interactions with coworkers, subordinates, clients, and others in healthcare institutions.
4. Explore ways to reduce microaggressions in their own workplaces.