Implicit bias in nursing education

What if the key to student success and equitable patient care starts with recognizing our own biases? Implicit bias can subtly shape how we teach, how students learn, and how patients are treated — often without conscious awareness. In this episode, we explore how nurse educators can identify and address these hidden influences to foster more inclusive and effective learning environments.

Our guest, Dr. Sonique Sailsman, is a certified nurse educator with over 25 years of experience in Acute Care Pediatrics. A transformational leader in addressing health disparities and bias in care, Dr. Sailsman brings passion for mentoring and evidence-based teaching to this vital conversation.

In this episode, we discuss:

• What implicit bias is and how it shows up in academic settings
• The impact of unaddressed faculty bias on student learning and patient outcomes
• Reflective practices to uncover personal blind spots
• Practical steps to build psychologically safe, bias-aware classrooms
• How to move beyond “cookie-cutter” case studies to reflect diverse patient experiences.

This episode is essential listening for nurse educators, administrators, and students committed to creating equitable learning environments and improving care outcomes. Dr. Sailsman offers actionable insights to help turn self-awareness into meaningful change — starting in the classroom.

Listen now to learn how to model the unbiased care you want to see in the next generation of nurses.