Course Summary

Expiration Date: 11/12/2028

Workplace discrimination — from overt prejudice to subtle comments — impacts inclusivity, psychological safety, and productivity. Health professionals must recognize and report prejudice due to its impact on legal compliance, employee well-being, culture, and performance. Reporting discrimination and prejudice involves documenting incidents, identifying appropriate channels (an immediate supervisor, the Human Relations department, an ethics hotline), and understanding the investigation process, confidentiality, and the legal right to protection against retaliation. The interprofessional health team, especially mental health clinicians and therapists, can support affected individuals and work with employers to address systemic bias and promote a respectful, inclusive work culture.

Course Format

Homestudy

Course Syllabus

  • Introduction
    • Case Scenario
    • Why Reporting Discrimination and Prejudice is Important
    • Reporting Discrimination and Prejudice in the Workplace
    • Investigation Process, Confidentiality, No Retaliation
    • Creating a Culture of Accountability
    • Role of Health Clinicians and Therapists
    • Takeaway Points

Authors

Susan Depasquale, MA, MSN, PMHNP-BC

Susan DePasquale is a board certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. Her current practice is with families, youth and adults who have mental illnesses in both inpatient and outpatient settings, including telepsychiatry for Montana, Washington and Wisconsin communities. She completed her Masters of Art in Political Science at the University of Victoria, British Columbia, Masters of Science in Nursing at Seattle Pacific University in Seattle, Washington with a focus in neurogastroenterology and the Post-Masters of Science in Nursing at the Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana with a focus in psychiatry. She has worked with small and rural healthcare teams in British Columbia and the Northwest Territories, Canada, and in teaching and research hospitals such as Providence Health and Virginia Mason Medical Center Digestive and Liver Disease Departments in Seattle. Since 2012, she has been actively involved in online continuing education program development for nurses and health teams.

William Cook, PhD

William Cook, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist who worked for 15 years in private practice in Montana before leaving his practice to work full time as the Director of CE4Less. He earned his doctorate degree from Texas A&M University, and focused much of his psychology practice in the area of child and family counseling, as well as psychological testing. Dr. Cook likes new challenges, foreign traveling to Africa and areas of Europe and the near East, scuba diving, running, music, and spending time with his family.