patient , we say you . When referring to them in the third person , most often we will say he or she , depending on the pronouns the patient has asked us to use . It is perfectly appropriate to ask patients which pronouns they use . In fact , transgender patients will often be put at ease when you ask . Some transgender people prefer a neutral third person option : they . When handing a trans patient over to a physician , for example , I might say , “ They are allergic to penicillin .”
Many LGBTQIA2S advocates encourage staff with badges to display their own pronouns on their IDs , even if they are cis-het . This again creates an environment where trans patients can feel welcomed and at ease . When a trans patient has a male visitor , avoid asking , “ Is this your boyfriend ?” which assumes a gender identity . A better option would be , “ And who did you bring with you today ?”
Creating Brighter , Rainbow-Colored Healthcare As nurses , everything we do should be in the very best interest of our patient . We advocate for them , even when nobody else will . We are an ally to the homeless , the addicted , the grumpy , the wrong doer , the rude , the impatient , and the psychotic . We treat all patients with the respect and dignity they deserve as human beings , with the infinite worth and potential that implies . Nurses have a tremendous responsibility – and opportunity – to build a more trans-friendly society , to break down barriers of misunderstanding , and to make healthcare workers true allies to those who experience the mountain differently .
People experience their lives , bodies , and attractions in so many different ways , but what we all have in common is our need just to feel loved , as well as to be heard , accepted , and valued . That starts with us . n
References APA . ( 2006 ). What challenges do people with intersex conditions and their families face ? https :// www . apa . org / topics / lgbt / intersex
Brown , A . ( 2017 , Nov . 8 ). Republicans , Democrats have starkly different views on transgender issues . Pew Research Center . https :// www . pewresearch . org / fact-tank / 2017 / 11 / 08 / transgender-issues-divide-republicans-and-democrats /
InterAct . ( 2020 ). How common is intersex ? https :// interactadvocates . org / faq /
Nokoff , N . J ., Palmer , B ., Mullins , A . J ., Aston , C . E ., Austin , P ., Baskin , L ., Bernabé , K ., Chan , Y . M ., Cheng , E . Y ., Diamond , D . A ., Fried , A ., Frimberger , D ., Galan , D ., Gonzalez , L ., Greenfield , S ., Kolon , T ., Kropp , B ., Lakshmanan , Y ., Meyer , S ., Meyer , T . et al ( 2017 ). Prospective assessment of cosmesis before and after genital surgery . J Pediatr Urol . 13 ( 1 ), 28 . e1- 28 . e6 .
University of Utah . ( 2020 ). Penile implants . https :// healthcare . utah . edu / menshealth / treatments / penile-implants /
Richard S . Cook , BA , is an advanced EMT , with aspirations of becoming an ER and Trauma nurse . He is currently in his third and final year of an accelerated BSN program at Provo College in Utah . He enjoys camping , exploring , and getting lost in the wilderness .
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