The Biology of Inequality and A.I. 101 (Dec 10, 2024)

The Biology of Inequality and A.I. 101 is organized by National Nurses United (NNU) and will be held on Dec 10, 2024 at Courtyard San Luis Obispo, San Luis Obispo, California, United States of America.

Part 1: The Biology of Inequality: The Health Impacts of Social Environments
Description:
Nurses know firsthand that social conditions affect access to health care, exposure to health risks, and health outcomes for patients. But what exactly are the pathways and mechanisms by which “social determinants” like poverty, pollution, and discrimination manifest in the body and impact health? This course takes an interdisciplinary approach to investigate how social, economic, and political inequalities and injustices materialize in individual, population, and even generational health. The class will also consider what the implications are for union nurses as patient advocates and discuss how nurses can help remedy the pathogenic effects of inequality and injustice on human health and society.

Objectives:

• Explain how economic, social, and political inequalities engender and shape health outcomes and identify root causes of health disparities;
• Articulate the connections between structural, social, environmental, and individual determinants of health and disease;
• Explore interpersonal, collective, and structural responses that address health disparities and their related social inequities.

Part 2: A.I. 101: What to know about A.I. in healthcare and its effects on patient advocacy
Description:
What is A.I.? How does it work? How will it impact patient care and the nursing profession? This course will provide an overview of what artificial intelligence is and how it works, explore the types of technologies that employ A.I. in healthcare settings, and analyze the potential benefits and risks to patients and our communities. This course will also explore the ways nurses can ensure that A.I. and other data-driven technologies will not degrade the quality of the care they provide.

Objectives:

• Define artificial intelligence (A.I.) and describe how A.I. technologies operate
• Identify existing and emerging use cases of A.I. and other data-driven technologies in healthcare settings
• Develop a foundation to protect nurses and patients from the implementation of harmful technologies.