Introduction
Ageism in our society is an increasing problem in healthcare. Ageism is defined as discrimination against older people as a result of negative and inaccurate stereotypes (Weir, 2023). It is also essential for nurses to be aware of the implicit bias towards the elderly population because ageism towards older adults influences and affects nursing decisions, judgments, and behaviors in the healthcare setting.
A study done by Ben-Harush et al. (2017) titled “Ageism among physicians, nurses, and social workers: Findings from a qualitative study” examines how nurses and other healthcare workers deal with implicit bias and ageism. There is a correlation between the quality of communication and care provided to attitudes toward older clients, “nurses tended to speak to older patients in a patronizing tone and did not involve them in consultations or decisions” (Ben-Harush et al., 2017, p. 40). This is very evident in healthcare. The elderly population is often left out of important decisions about their health.
Discussion
From personal experience as a licensed vocational nurse, I have noted some nurses do not discuss a plan of care with the elderly patient and rather discuss it with the family members even though the patient has no memory deficits. This leaves patients out of important information about their care and negatively impacts patient and nurse relations. Ageism impacts the quality of treatment and services the older adults get (Ben-Harush et al., 2017).
Throughout my career, I have frequently observed disparities in the treatment of older patients, which has made me question my attitudes towards them. For example, I recall a particular instance when I inadvertently prioritized a younger patient’s concern over an older individual’s; thus, it shows that I need constant self-awareness. After I properly reflect on my initial years as a licensed vocational nurse, I recognize that there were moments when societal biases about age unintentionally influenced me.
My perception of older adults has evolved with experience, and it taught me their wisdom, resilience, and the immense value of their life stories. Thus, I believe each patient deserves proper respect and individualized care, regardless of age. Geriatric care is complex, but I realized the importance of eliminating any ageist tendencies to provide quality treatment. Every interaction with an older patient offers me a ‘mirror’ since it shows me subtle biases that I might have inherited unknowingly.
Since ageism is an issue in healthcare, we must learn to control our implicit biases towards the elderly population. Some of the ways we can manage our biased thoughts are by “understanding and respecting the magnitude of unconscious bias” (The Joint Commission, 2023, para. 22). This means that when we have an implicit biased thought, we must treat it as just an unconscious thought and not let it affect the way treat our patients. It is good to recognize a negative thought process so that we may work at making it a positive one instead. Another way we can manage implicit bias is by creating a partnership with our patients (The Joint Commission, 2023).
The clinician, healthcare worker, and patient should have the same goal: to improve or maintain patient health to the best quality of life. When nurses and doctors partner with their patients, they create goals for each other, not just the patient. They both work together to improve the health of the patients. The patient feels more involved this way and feels like they are working with the healthcare workers instead of being a burden to them.
I should engage in proper education about ageism because it will give me knowledge and help me in changing my preconceived notions about older adults. I should also expose myself to elderly patients more; thus, it is essential since it will allow me to counterbalance pre-existing biases with positive experiences. In other words, biases do not survive long when faced with real examples that defy them (Gazaway et al., 2021).
I make it a point to attend workshops and training sessions on cultural competence and inclusivity in healthcare. In addition, I should engage in reflective practice because it aids in identifying any biased behaviors during patient interactions; hence, seeking feedback from others can help me take note of such problematic areas. Therefore, the three key strategies are self-education, exposure, and self-reflection, and they are about theory, environment, and practice, respectively.
Awareness of my implicit biases shapes my nursing practice – it helps me approach each patient with individuality and proper respect. I fully recognize the influence of my biases, which is why they prompt me to make decisions in an evidence-based manner when it comes to patient care. Therefore, the significant implication of my self-awareness of implicit bias is my complete and clear recognition and acknowledgment that I have them (Gazaway et al., 2021). Now, I am no longer blinded by their presence but instead focused on eliminating them through evidence and proper conduct.
Conclusion
In nursing practice, these changes manifest as being aware of biases and improving my communication skills since they allow me to be more open and effective in conversations with older patients. In addition, self-awareness enables building trust and rapport, which is fundamental in therapeutic relationships (Gazaway et al., 2021). It is important to note that being reflective about my biases ensures that unintentional ageist views do not compromise the quality of care I provide; thus, it empowers me to advocate for older adults. The latter should be done within healthcare settings and broader societal contexts because I cannot be age-inclusive at work and be biased in my personal life. Therefore, I believe I am already improving massively by conducting this self-reflection.
References
Ben-Harush, A., Shiovitz-Ezra, S., Doron, I., Alon, S., Leibovitz, A., Golander, H., Haron, Y., & Ayalon, L. (2017). Ageism among physicians, nurses, and social workers: Findings from a qualitative study. European Journal of Ageing, 14(1), 39–48. Web.
Gazaway, S. B., Barnett, M. D., Bowman, E. H., Ejem, D., Harrell, E. R., Brown, C. J., & Bakitas, M. (2021). Health professionals palliative care education for older adults: Overcoming ageism, racism, and gender bias. Current Geriatrics Reports, 10, 148–156. Web.
The Joint Commission. (2023). Quick safety 23: Implicit bias in health care. Web.
Weir, K. (2023). Ageism is one of the last socially acceptable prejudices. Psychologists are working to change that. American Psychological Association, 54(2), 36. Web.
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