Transgender Students

LikeTheDeadSea, MSN, RN · Apr 8, 2021

If you're in the NorthEast, I highly recommend reaching out to the Mazzoni Center. They provide professional development workshops for LGBTQ+ topics.

https://www.mazzonicenter.org/supportive-services/education-and-professional-development/coaching-and-consulting-0/workshop-topics

Maybe there is a LGBTQ+ wellness center like the Mazzoni Center in your region if you're farther?

BunnyBunnyBSNRN, ASN, BSN · Apr 8, 2021

I'm in South Texas, but will look at that website. ?

Thanks!

arlingtonnurse · Apr 8, 2021

We just had a large training on supporting identity, this TED talk is a great source of information to introduce people to this topic

Another great resource:

https://blogs.vsb.bc.ca/pride/files/2016/02/Gender-Spectrum-12-Easy-Steps-on-the-Way-to-Gender-Inclusiveness.pdf

Lbarba84 · Apr 8, 2021

this is a good topic as I honestly havent even considered this!

Flare, ASN, BSN · Apr 12, 2021

I've had one student who had begun transitioning while in my school (middle school). Overall, there were not too many changes, other than the inclusion of preferred name, pronouns. I didn't get any legal documents that would enable me to change any of the demographics in their health file, but I certainly left a note. He was understanding when he came in and had interactions with his dead name clearly visible on the computer screen. I believe he even played on the baseball team, simply chose to change in a staff bathroom, but may have been using the boys room and locker room by 8th grade. That was addressed by the admins.

BrisketRN, BSN, RN · Apr 12, 2021

Know your state laws! I don't know if Texas has any on these issues, but Illinois does and somehow I was the only one who looked into it (administrators had no idea).

tining, BSN, RN · Apr 12, 2021

Our district is allowing name changes without legally changing name.

NutmeggeRN, BSN · Apr 12, 2021

It can be a challenge when parents refuse to acknowledge the child's preferred identifier. (Born Sally, wants to be called Steve). When I address the kiddo, I call them what they prefer. It gets a little trickier when said child is next to me and I need to call the parent....

cowboysandangels, BSN · Apr 13, 2021

This is something that, as an elementary school nurse, I have not encountered yet. I am sure I will at some point in my career and I want to be as educated as possible on the issue. There has been some talk about the topic of transgender and similar topics being included in our social studies curriculum for the upcoming years. If so, I want to sit in on the class to learn what we are teaching so that I can be helpful.

BunnyBunnyBSNRN, ASN, BSN · Apr 13, 2021

59 minutes ago, cowboysandangels said:

This is something that, as an elementary school nurse, I have not encountered yet. I am sure I will at some point in my career and I want to be as educated as possible on the issue. There has been some talk about the topic of transgender and similar topics being included in our social studies curriculum for the upcoming years. If so, I want to sit in on the class to learn what we are teaching so that I can be helpful.

Definitely check out the video posted by @arlingtonnurse

BunnyBunnyBSNRN, ASN, BSN · Apr 13, 2021

15 hours ago, NutmeggeRN said:

It can be a challenge when parents refuse to acknowledge the child's preferred identifier. (Born Sally, wants to be called Steve). When I address the kiddo, I call them what they prefer. It gets a little trickier when said child is next to me and I need to call the parent....

I think the student knows that the parent doesn't support it, so it shouldn't be a big issue with the student. I would probably say to the student, "You know when I talk to your mom, I have to use the name you were given at birth" before I make the call. The student knows you support them.