Nurses' Implicit Bias Toward Older Adults: A Mid-Range Nursing Theory

Area of Science:

• Nursing Science
• Gerontology
• Social Psychology

Background:

• Implicit bias in nursing can negatively impact older adult care.
• Understanding the origins of bias is crucial for effective interventions.
• Existing theories lack a comprehensive framework for implicit bias in geriatric nursing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop the Nurses' Implicit Bias Toward Older Adults Mid-Range Nursing Theory.
• To explain the mechanisms by which implicit bias arises and affects older adults.
• To identify mitigation points for interventions to address nurse bias.

Main Methods:

• Theoretical development integrating Pepper's worldview, Parse's paradigm, and emancipatory perspective.
• Incorporation of implicit social cognition principles.
• Identification of key intervention strategies based on theoretical constructs.

Main Results:

• The developed theory explains how nurses' backgrounds and unconscious processes influence clinical practice.
• Key mitigation points for targeted interventions to address implicit bias were identified.
• A framework for understanding and addressing implicit bias in nursing care for older adults was established.

Conclusions:

• The Nurses' Implicit Bias Toward Older Adults Theory provides a foundation for future research.
• The theory has implications for advancing nursing science and professional practice.
• Addressing implicit bias is essential for equitable healthcare delivery and improved older adult outcomes.