Lived Experiences and Training Opportunities of Nurses Caring for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Patients

The lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community faces many challenges and barriers when accessing healthcare. Research pertaining to LGBT healthcare access has noted that members of the LGBT community experience worsening health and substandard care as the result of their gender and sexual orientations. Denial of health services, difficulty obtaining healthcare insurance and funding, and healthcare providers who lack the knowledge and training to competently care for the LGBT patients are a few of the challenges and barriers the community faces. This phenomenological study explored the lived experiences and training opportunities of nurses caring for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender patients. Qualitative interviews with 13 nurses provided insight into their lived experiences and training opportunities in providing care to LGBT patients. Study findings identified a paucity of the learning experiences and training opportunities in both academic and workplace settings that are necessary for nurses to competently care for LGBT patients. In response to the findings in this study, three training opportunities that encompass a broad array of LGBT-focused nursing practices and behaviors were recommended to the urban medical center located in a medium-sized city in the Midwestern United States that served as the site for the study. This dissertation in practice provided practical implications for frontline nurses and nursing leaders that were related to providing culturally competent care and reducing the barriers and challenges that LGBT patients face when accessing healthcare. Keywords: nursing leadership, shared governance, culturally competent care, healthcare access, minority stress, structural stigmatization, lesbian, bisexual, gay, and transgender (LGBT)

Grantor dc:publisher

Creighton University

Year dc:date.issued

2021

Author dc:creator

• Bodeman, Gabriel

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Brock, Barbara L.

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright is retained by the Author. A non-exclusive distribution right is granted to Creighton University and to ProQuest following the publishing model selected above.

Language dc:language.iso

en_US

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10504/134661

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:cdr.creighton.edu:10504/134661