my name is Miray and i am a nursing student in Lebanon. I have a presentation to make about homosexual patients and the care they receive by nurses so i need some help. If anyone has ever cared for a homosexual (male/female) then can you tell me what you did? how you reacted? and what you could have done to care for that patient better?
the answers can be anonymous if you want and this is not a topic of who is with or against i just want to show my classmates how people react differently to some situations.
One has a hunch the OP is speaking of experiences in other countries and not the USA.
While it is true there are physicans, nurses and other healthcare workers for whom LGBT patients aren't up their street, their personal comfort is the issue. Whatever a nurse's personal feelings are towards a patient's lifestyle she or he would be wise to keep them to themselves and provide the same level of care regardless. Administration and managment are well aware of the consequences and repercussions of "poor" treatment and or discrimination of LGBT patients, more so since the Obama administration has come into office.
As a nurse, it is your responsibility to treat the patient, not your personal feelings towards a patient and their lifestyle. But it is important in teaching depending on why a patient is admitted. Younger LGBT patients can and do need information to make good choices, and with that being said all young people regardless of orientation need information to make good choices.
It should also not be in anyone's best interests to be judgemental. Where does that end? If one was an adulterer, a convict, an addict, an alcoholic or a real jerky heterosexual, hospice, or even in other countries, and American......you could find judgement in a lot of "non-mainstream" areas of nursing care.
I would look at some websites regarding providing culturally competent care to the LGBT community. As a strong LGBT advocate, I would caution anyone who is a nurse to to base care on lifestyle, beyond competent education, and if applicable. If a member of the LGBT community is coming in for an appendectomy, then I would not think that the fact that they are LGBT has a thing to do with it. And contrary to beliefs of some, not evey LGBT person is HIV positive, has aids, or can spread the disease if they do with basic contact.
I've cared for many homosexual patients. I treat them exactly the same as heterosexual patients. I treat every patient the same. If a patient needs boundaries, I set them. If they need comfort, I am there to provide comfort, if they need isolation or special precautions based on their condition alone, I do what is needed. All patients deserve the same level of care and respect no matter what their sexual orientation, race, color, etc. If I come in and greet a patient, and they have visitors, I say, and your name might be? And how do you know the patient? Just so I can figure out who is who, and have proper forms signed. No different for homosexual or heterosexual patients.
I'm in Canada and there is no difference in the hospitals here, as in the country. Homosexuals can marry, and adopt. They have the same rights as everyone else.
I guess being honest I do stereotype them, I often find gay males more friendly and a bit more fun in general
As a generally "less fun," "less outgoing," and just "less fun in general heterosexual male"(joke-poke at Daisy), I think it has more to do with the "region" your in than the homosexual. I too, like sun, live in the US South where I would imagine it would be "one" of the most difficult places to live homosexual.
I think nurses are a bit more open minded in general here, nurses feel they are "advocates" already whether they agree or disagree with a patient's morals and values, and alas, there are some middle eastern countries that have a death penalty for homosexuality- as the US has equal treatment laws protecting all its citizens against discrimination.
So, if I was a homosexual in Lebanon, I (and my boyfriend if I had one:)) would probably be working on becoming a Lebanese American:)
I'm a new grad nurse, so I don't have much experience. There was a patient on the floor for my entire last rotation who was a homosexual. We'd talk a lot, even when he wasn't my patient, I'd find time to stop in and chat since he was in an isolation room in the back and I knew he was lonely. He told me about his partner, who had died a few years ago. I didn't know he was homosexual, and it didn't change anything when he told me. I know that doesn't help you any, but in my opinion it doesn't make a difference.
The current issue of AJN (American Journal of Nursing) has an article about caring for transgender patients. It's definitely worth a read.
As a generally "less fun," "less outgoing," and just "less fun in general heterosexual male(joke-poke at Daisy, I think it has more to do with the "region," your in than the homosexual. I too, like sun, live in the US South where I would imagine it would be the "one" of the most difficult places to live homosexual- I think nurses are a bit more open minded in general, nurses feel they are "advocates" already whether they agree or disagree with a patient's morals and values, and alas, there are some middle eastern countries that have a death penalty for homosexuality- as the US has equal treatment laws protecting all it's citizens. So, if I was a homosexual in Lebanon, I would probably be working on becoming a Lebanese American:)
I'm a new grad nurse, so I don't have much experience. There was a patient on the floor for my entire last rotation who was a homosexual. We'd talk a lot, even when he wasn't my patient, I'd find time to stop in and chat since he was in an isolation room in the back and I knew he was lonely. He told me about his partner, who had died a few years ago. I didn't know he was homosexual, and it didn't change anything when he told me. I know that doesn't help you any, but in my opinion it doesn't make a difference.
The current issue of AJN (American Journal of Nursing) has an article about caring for transgender patients. It's definitely worth a read.
Of the LGBT group from what one understands transgenders often bear the major burnt of discrimination especially in healthcare.
Time was and may still be when some hospitals or nursing staff refused to place/take non-operated or even post-op MTF transgendered "women" on GYN floors or in a shared room with a gentic female. Then such patients often have to endure what can almost be described as some the most passive aggressive care by some of the nursing staff. In particular often from the nursing assistants who in many areas of the country are mostly drawn from (there is no nice way of saying this) *different* socio-economic backgrounds than say nurses or physicans especially those from the Islands or other immigrant groups.
Post-op MTF transgenders often fearing such discrimination and or for other reasons do not disclose their health background upon admission and a nurse or whomever not knowing or caring does not probe. However this can have serious affects on care provided. Though the exterior may look female, the internals are still male and that presents chances for compliations.
Okay, thought about it. I will add that I find the media portrayal of gays not reflective. But All I watch is amazing race and survivor clamming to be "reality".
Often they are overly flamboyant, drama queen, princess, whinny, fake or just pathetic. Yes there are these type of gay people as in every culture, religion, race ect. But why they get chosen repetitively to represent this group is beyond me.
It is not a true representation, at least of the gay people I knowNot answering your question I know....
We are expected in the U.S. as nurses to treat patients in a way that is free of judgment stemming from a patient's religious beliefs, political views, lifestyle choices, etc. It is an integral component of the American Nurses Association's Code of Ethics that nurses are bound to provide humane, unbiased treatment to each individual, even if there values contrast our own. Cultural norms, expectations, & the overall status quo in the industry, country, & region where you work will undoubtedly influence care provided. I think it's interesting & commendable that you would seek out the perspectives of nurses from other cultural backgrounds.
ElizaW
55 Posts
I treat homosexual patients the same as heterosexual patients. They are all human beings. No difference. Why should there be?