No consideration for gay patients

ChristineN, BSN, RN · Mar 26, 2008

Does your school require some sort of Diversity, Ethics in Heathcare, or Sociology class? I've found such issues are typically addressed there more so than in med-surg.

eric2123 · Mar 26, 2008

Does your school require some sort of Diversity, Ethics in Heathcare, or Sociology class? I've found such issues are typically addressed there more so than in med-surg.

We do have sociology. However, when we talk about certain illnesses and how they effect certain races or genders, we never discuss how certain disease effect people in the who are gay. Today in class, we discussed STDs and how women should be checked for this and men for that. We talked about how some diseases are more prevalent in African Americans. But STDs and the gay community were not mentioned. And STDs are a widespread problem in the gay community. Why no mention?

rn/writer, RN · Mar 26, 2008

We do have sociology. However, when we talk about certain illnesses and how they effect certain races or genders, we never discuss how certain disease effect people in the who are gay. Today in class, we discussed STDs and how women should be checked for this and men for that. We talked about how some diseases are more prevalent in African Americans. But STDs and the gay community were not mentioned. And STDs are a widespread problem in the gay community. Why no mention?

This is something you would have to ask your instructors. Maybe no one has brought it up to them.

If you don't feel comfortable rocking the boat while still in class (not always a wise move), you could let them know in the course evaluation or in a letter after the fact. You might also gather the kind of information you would like to see being taught and give them a starting point for material to be included in future classes.

If you can approach this with the attitude of trying to be helpful (and not judging them for having an inadequate program), you are likely to increase your chances for a positive reception. It's usually most effective to tell someone what you need rather than how inept/insensitive they are for not already having provided it (even though the latter might apply).

I wish you well.

flightnurse2b, LPN · Mar 26, 2008

in my school, we were required to take biomedical ethics and we did cover specific needs of a homosexual patient in med-surg 1. i agree with miranda, instead of rocking the boat, gently make a helpful suggestion... i would include it in your course evaluation that you think it is an area that needs to be added to the curriculum. it is definately an important topic! good luck to you!

Perpetual Student · Mar 26, 2008

I've never really considered the matter. What special preferences/needs would homosexual patients have? One obvious one I can see is being sure to allow a patient's significant other to visit even if they're not legally considered "family."

I doubt the lack of discussion is intended as a slight and is just an oversight on the part of your instructors. I would wager that the increased prevalence of certain STDs in the homosexual community was based either on political correctness or lack of instructor comfort in discussing the matter.

OldPhatMC · Mar 26, 2008

I go to nursing school in Indianapolis, IN and my school never discusses special considerations for homosexual patients. Many problems do have special considerations that would have to be taken into mind if the patient were a gay. I am gay and I think it is slightly offensive. I feel like the education that my school is providing will churn out the type of "professionals" that will perpetuate the discrimination against gay patients in the healthcare market in America. Does anyone have any thoughts?

I agree with you that these issues aren't talked about and I think it's mostly more out of a lack of visibility than any true malice. I'm inclined to hope and believe that nurses focus on helping patients instead of taking the time to judge them.

I know from my research that the Lesbian community is significantly less likely to participate in routine health care and as a group is somewhat more likely to be at risk for breast and reproductive cancers. I woud suggest exploring this site: http://www.mautnerproject.org/home/

I know that when I was in my nursing program, I drew upon my "friendly outsider" awareness of the gay and Lesbian community to highlight gaps that would discourage a patient from obtaining care or complying with instructions. My program used online discussions and most of my comments were accepted with face value, provided I followed the same ground rules for accuracy that everyone else uses. If you do your homework and it shows, you will make a useful impression.

Just following along with existing health care policies that were well intentioned but not thought through can create barriers, but the bigger barrier is making social assumptions. How much retraining did it take our older colleagues before they stopped assuming a pregnant woman was married? (Or for that matter that a nurse was female :wink2:). Remember the good old days when forms had "husband" and "wife" printed on them.

I agree that taking on your instructors in any sort of negative way would be counterproductive, but nothing stops you from educating your classmates in ones or twos as you expand your circle of influence.

Final thought, gay health and men's health do not overlap 100% either. Topics such as male genital mutilation (circumcision), ED, HIV/AIDS and STDs are not preference specific and sometimes awareness of men's health issues are so poor that making sure those issues are understood is indirectly helping the gay community.

Keep plugging, the only thing that would make your advocacy ineffective is if you chose to give up.

I hope this helps.

Reno1978, BSN, RN · Mar 27, 2008

I took a capstone course on gay and lesbian trends and issues to satisfy that university requirement....mostly because I thought I was expert in the area and could get an easy A, but it was actually very informative.

I agree that in nursing school they don't focus much on this topic.

allnurses Guide · Mar 27, 2008

I have been embarassed asuming a patient was straight asking, "Are you married" or such. The patients who told me were very kind. More so than most very ill people are.

I hope my ignorance didn't harm those who didn't say anything.

There is an article on page 16 of this nursing journal by a nurse and for all of us:

http://www.calnurses.org/publications/registered-nurse-magazine/registered-nurse-october-2007.pdf

czyja, MSN, RN · Mar 29, 2008

I feel like the education that my school is providing will churn out the type of "professionals" that will perpetuate the discrimination against gay patients in the healthcare market in America. Does anyone have any thoughts?

Yup, it will.

LGBTG persons have some health needs that differ from straight folks. Nurses are ideally situated to advocate for their Q patients. Sadly, many nursing schools "dont wanna go there."

Why not work for change? Ask for LGBTG issues to be covered. Suggest and elective. Are there any out faculty? You may wish to enlist their support.

If were in yer shoes I would start a reading/discussion group on Q issues in nursing. Post some flyers. See who shows up.

Good luck - and thank you for working on this important issue.

The_Wonderkid · Mar 29, 2008

Well in my University we had a whole module on the subject of Diversity, Rights and Equality which featured alot of sociology and the like. We get lectures on minorities and the impact of health and illness has on certain groups and HOW we can do our utmost to ensure these groups get the best adn most effective care according to their requirements. This ensures we have a firm grasp on the reasoning behind and the requirements of groups. It is a good way to avoid people being homophobic, racist and the like in practice. However if this is ingrained in the person its hard to shake this anyway.

Note - What I find increasinly frustrated with is how the health services have the idea that if a person is of the LGBT that they MUST have some sort of STD testing. Its an assumption which is increasingly occuring especially in GP surgeries. Yet they seem to be less knowledgable that rates of mental illness (mainly depression/suicide) is more common in these groups amongst other details which can affect practice.

good topic! TWK

9livesRN, BSN, RN · Apr 1, 2008

gay or not, black or white, old or young, skinny or fat, all have the same need, they are ill and there for you to care about them! take in consideration the patients needs and abide by your training!