No consideration for gay patients

justme1972 · Apr 18, 2008

Now, gays come in all colors and both sexes, but being gay does mean that there still are special considerations that have to be considered because the person is gay.

My point is...not one person (and in all due respect, including yourself) has mentioned ONE "special" consideration that the gay community has that the straight community does not.

ALL nurses are taught to assess for family (and that means different things to different people), support, resources, economic means of care, healthcare education, the decisionmaker, advanced directives...we are ALL taught to NEVER assume anything, you have to assess which means ask lots of questions.

What you have stated about AA's is healthcare related, race-related. Just like sickle-cell anemia..you wouldn't expect to find that in a white individual.

SteveNNP, MSN, NP · Apr 18, 2008

As another poster mentioned, I too would not want those living in the "Ivory Tower" of nursing education writing guidelines for the nursing considerations of GLBTs.

dfarr · Apr 18, 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 think you are making a mountain out of a mole hill. Exactly what type of special considerations does a gay patient need? Seriously dude, stop being so sensitive. Gay patients don't deserve any more special consideration than straight patients do.

justme1972 · Apr 19, 2008

....and I am still waiting for Eric to post these "special issues".

love_being_an_aide · May 9, 2008

I think you are making a mountain out of a mole hill. Exactly what type of special considerations does a gay patient need? Seriously dude, stop being so sensitive. Gay patients don't deserve any more special consideration than straight patients do.

It's attitudes like this that makes discussing gay issues needed. I had a nurse just the other day admit a male patient who was HIV+, and before he went in to do the assessment said, well, he has AIDS, so he must be gay. I was floored. Here is a professional who went through school to be a nurse, an individual who is supposed to be caring for people, all people, who need help, and he makes a statment like this. This country may have come a long way since Stonewall, but there is still a lot more that needs to be done, and education is the best way to make people wake up and realize that differences are out there. And as nursing is an occupation that professes to care for all, this topic might be worth addressing in NS. Just my two :twocents:

Oorah · May 10, 2008

What "special considerations" are we talking about? Why would I care one way or another about a patients sexual orientation? And someone, anyone please explain to me how this actually matters in treating a patient? Because I'm pretty sure I could care less either way.

Natingale, EdD, RN · May 12, 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?

Sorry but I think Im missing the picture. What special accomodations do they need to make for homosexuals? We had a man with both a member, and breast implants..Treated him like he was anyone else. (not a nurse yet BTW just a secretary but work in a ER). Well I should also mention Im in NY and we've seen everything honey LOL..Im not sure how diverse Indianapolis is.

What special considerations did we miss, so I know for next time. :nuke:

Wsmith16, ADN, BSN · May 14, 2008

I'm gonna have to agree with Hopeful2009.

Blacks, latino's, asians, gays/lesbians, overweight folks, skinny folks...everyone has issues. We can't make "special considerations" for every group. What we can do is try to treat each patient we deal with fairly & give them the best care.

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · May 14, 2008

I think the OP is simply wishing that consideration be given to one's SO, that assumptions about one's sexual habits not be made, that we try to keep any prejudices out of our nursing care.

I don't know what special education would address this, but it certainbly isn't outrageous to suggest that much of the world is woefully ignorant of GLBT people, and acts accordingly.

BTW, Black folks aren't prescribed calcium channel blockers as often because somehow they are simply not as effective in that population. This does not, however, in any way diminish deplorable racial health care disparities.

As to gay health issues, all one has to have had is a friend die of AIDS back in the day when it was called "gay plague" and it scared to world to death. And it was an understandable fear of a new, hitherto unknown, devastating disease but the treatment I saw inflicted on some of my friends by HCP's was aborrent.

I live, now, in a very small town. And the words I hear to describe a gay guy are usually "***" or "queer." Polite people refer to Black people as "colored." We all know the other word.

We can't pretend that we live in a loving, caring world. We are surrounded by close-minded folks most places we go, be it my small town or a neighborhood in Afghanistan where women not clad in burqahs are beaten.

Acknowledging the special needs of one group does not lessen those of another.