Course Description
All patients should feel comfortable providing information necessary for their care and should be treated with dignity and respect. Caregivers, nurses and other healthcare professionals are responsible for providing a level of high-quality care to all patient populations, including LGBTQIA+ patients. As LGBTQIA+ people often experience inequalities in healthcare, nurses working with this population should understand how to help and better serve LGBTQIA+ patients. The goal of this course is to train healthcare professionals in the skills to effectively communicate with and serve LGBTQIA+ patients.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of the course, the learner will be able to:
- Define LGBTQIA+-inclusive terminology in order to better communicate with and about LGBTQIA+ patients
- Describe health and social challenges faced historically by LGBTQIA+ patients, particularly discrimination in the healthcare setting
- Explain the legal and professional obligation to treat LGBTQIA+ patients in a nondiscriminatory manner, as well as penalties for failing to meet legal and professional standards
- Discuss different methods of creating a safe and affirming environment for LGBTQIA+ patients
Intended Audience
This educational activity was developed to teach nurses and healthcare professionals how to provide patient-centered care for LGBTQ+ patients.
CE Information
This educational activity qualifies for 1.0 contact hour of continuing nursing education credit.
Course Authors
This educational activity written by Anita Fitzgerald, PhD, RN, AGNP, CNE and Ruth Kramer, RN, BSN, MA and edited by Brenda Kozak, DNP, MSN, RN, CNE.