Remote interviews in nurse practitioner programs: Addressing bias

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Health Equity
• Healthcare Workforce Diversity

Background:

• A diverse nursing workforce is essential for addressing health disparities and achieving health equity in the United States.
• Bias in nursing school admissions interviews has been documented, disproportionately affecting applicants from historically excluded groups, including racial and ethnic minorities.
• The shift to remote interviews due to COVID-19 necessitates a focus on potential biases in virtual admissions processes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the implementation of a faculty training program designed to identify and mitigate bias in remote nursing school interviews.
• To evaluate the outcomes of this faculty training initiative.

Main Methods:

• The study involved the implementation of a faculty training program focused on recognizing and reducing bias in remote interview settings.
• Specific training modules and strategies were employed to address unconscious bias in virtual interactions.

Main Results:

• The faculty training program was successfully implemented, providing faculty with tools to address bias in remote interviews.
• Preliminary outcomes suggest a heightened awareness and improved capacity among faculty to conduct more equitable remote interviews.

Conclusions:

• Faculty training is a viable strategy for mitigating bias in remote nursing school interviews.
• Such training can contribute to more equitable admissions processes, supporting the development of a diverse nursing workforce.
• Addressing bias in admissions is a critical step towards achieving health equity.