Kentucky nurses 'required' to complete 'implicit bias' class on 'history of racism in healthcare' or they may not be able to renew license: Report

Nurses in Kentucky were "required" to complete a "mandatory" "implicit bias" class on the "history of racism in healthcare" or risk facing possible loss of license, the Washington Examiner recently reported.

According to the outlet, the Kentucky Board of Nursing, a government agency, threatened to "discipline" health care workers who failed to complete the "mandatory continuing education" training course by July 1.

The class, created by the Kentucky Nurses Association, was presented by KNA Board of Directors Treasurer Arica Brandford and KNA CEO Delanor Manson.

In a comment to the Washington Examiner, Manson stated, "Perhaps it would be of value to research the effects of implicit bias in healthcare and the definition of implicit bias."

"I recommend you take [an] implicit bias class as required by the KBN and then ask questions," she added. "All of your efforts could be enlightening."

Nurses were told that "best intentions will not solve implicit bias in healthcare" and "in order to lead to meaningful change," they must explore "much larger conversations on racism and bias," the presentation stated.

The outlet reported that one of the presentation's slides included a picture of Ku Klux Klan members burning a cross. Nurses were shown a diagram of "overt racism" and "covert racism."

"Overt racism" included examples such as lynching, swastikas, and "public harassment of [persons of color] speaking other than English." The presentation provided a long list of examples of "covert racism," including "white silence," "denying institutional racism," denying white privilege, "claiming 'reverse racism,'" and 'excusing/'white-splaining' racism."

The outlet reported that medical professionals were told that racism could lead to many health risks, such as hypertension, low birth weight and prematurity, heart disease, diabetes, increased body mass index, depression, anxiety, and stress.

Laura Morgan, the program manager for the medical advocacy group Do No Harm and former nurse, told the Washington Examiner, "In states that require continuing education hours to maintain licensure, the nurse who fails to do so will not have his or her license renewed."

"Kentucky is no exception to this. The words 'mandatory' and 'required' are very well defined," Morgan added.

The KBN told the Washington Examiner that nurses would not have their licenses revoked if they failed to complete the class. However, it also noted that "failure to do it could result in a civil sanction or discipline."

The license renewal period coincided with the training course, which by Kentucky law, was "a prerequisite for license renewal."

"No licensee will be denied licensure for failing to meet mandatory CE requirements. Most failures to meet CE requirements result in a non-disciplinary settlement. However, failing to obtain CEs may result in a written reprimand," KBN told the outlet. The agency refused to explain further what the reprimand could entail.

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