LGBTQ Youth: Resources for Pediatric Nurses

[PNCB]

Pediatric nurses are key to facilitating improvements for the health and well-being of LGBTQ children and adolescents. In schools, at the hospital bedside, and other settings, they have opportunities to identify concerns, start conversations, and connect children and teens to support. Pediatric nurse practitioners during annual check-ups or other interactions can play a vital role in discussing issues in a safe environment. As faculty and clinical educators, nurses impact LGBTQ cultural competence.

Because pediatric nurses are uniquely positioned in a variety of settings to advocate, educate, and support youth and their families, the Institute of Pediatric Nursing, a committee of the non-profit Pediatric Nursing Certification Board, recommends the following respected resources about care for LGBTQ youth:

• LGBTQ Students: The Role of the School Nurse (National Association of School Nurses Position Statement)
  
• Health Risks and Needs of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning Adolescents (National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners Position Statement)
  
• Caring for Transgender Youth (American Academy of Pediatrics Webinar Series)
  
• Mental Health of Transgender Children Who Are Supported in Their Identities (American Academy of Pediatrics Article)
  
• Caring for the LGBT Community (Advance for RNs)
  
• Caring for LGBTQ Youth in Clinical Settings (National LGBT Health Education Center Module)
  
• Providing Services and Supports for Youth who are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning, Intersex or Two-Spirit (The National Center for Cultural Competence Practice Brief)
  
• Supporting LGBT Youth in Health Care Settings (Society of Pediatric Nurses Webinar)
  

[SnowShoeRN]

Excellent! Thank you for sharing.

[culturednurse]

Thank you! So happy to see this here.

[Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

Another excellent resource is GLMA GLMA - GLMA Home Page

I found their stuff to be excellent and on point.

Thanks for sharing these other resources targeting youth. Such a great need in a vulnerable population.

[Mhays]

Thank you for having this great information. It was so informative and I learned a lot from the information and websites that you have posted onto your forum. One of my favorite websites that you have is the school nurse. I was a school nurse for about 9-10 years and it has changed into how I view pediatric nursing. Pediatric nursing is hard because it changes all of the time and there are some great advances into the whole concept of helping pediatrics. I really enjoyed learning about the school nursing. Thank you again and good luck to you.

[GinaJohn]

As stated by all, THANK-YOU!:) I work in a Baker-Act receiving facility for children & adolescents. This is useful and appreciated!

[Makleck]

Thank you!

[sergel02, BSN]

Lots of great resources. I was wondering if there were resources like this a few weeks ago so this is fantastic.

[Roy Hanson]

its still hidden in most cases! Just because the media get hold of it, does not mean its main stream..as previous. Mainstream is very conservative, and thinks its contagious.

[sherri64]

We will be adding age appropriate care plan information for patients and residents on careplans.com for anyone of the LGBT community. Education is so important and it can go a long way in making anyone's' stay in any facility much better for all involved.

[Mhays]

I am so glad that you are bringing up this very subject because it is an interesting thing to discuss. I would do a google search on understanding about different cultures and resources. As a nurse, I have been trained in different cultural aspects and it is very interesting. In the area of Virginia that I live in, I am amazed at what many diverse cultures we have. We as nurses have to be ready all of the time and by doing research and having seminars on culture, we can be ready.

[sherri64]

Understanding the complex issues that make up the culture of LGBTQ people is very important. When providing care, you won't find judging them on the care plan. More needs to be done in order to stop the horribly high rate of suicide within this community. The negativity that many face on a daily basis can become overwhelming and it is usually coming from a place of ignorance and intolerance. No one should be treated that way. Or made to feel inferior to the rest of the human race. We need to learn to value the life of the people we meet and care for, no matter how different they may seem.