Influencing Culture through Preceptor Development in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

by Priya Meyer

Coauthors: Jessica Klaristenfeld, Laura Tice, Lindsey Hertz, Mariana Orozco, Taylor Picket

DEI Innovations

Negative implicit bias contributes to unequal treatment and disparities in treatment decisions, levels of care, and healthcare outcomes of patients based on race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, and other characteristics. Culturally competent preceptors can guide the next generation of nurses in addressing this public health crisis. This interprofessional Role Development team identified a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) gap in existing preceptor educational activities. They aspired to coach preceptors to practice inclusiveness, recognize how to mitigate bias, and experiment with strategies for respectfully influencing intolerance for inequity, exclusion, and injustices in the clinical setting. The team collaborated with the DEI office to develop content using evidence-informed competencies and Kolb’s experiential learning theory as frameworks. First, preceptors conceptualized DEI principles through activities aimed at celebrating their diversity. Second, preceptors defined cultural identity groups, identity salience, and psychological safety and experimented with implicit associations that can impact patient care. Third, preceptors applied strategies for mitigating impact of microaggressions in a simulated environment. Finally, preceptors reflectively observed how their cultural literacy and practice changed over the course of the series. Participants evaluated each of the four workshops via survey. Positively worded five-point Likert scale items relating to satisfaction ranged from 1, strongly disagree to 5, strongly agree; Median 5. Comments about DEI content reflected feelings of gratitude for the education, increased awareness, and wanting more content specifically as it relates to the preceptor role.