Question

What Is Providing Culturally Sensitive Care for Lesbian, Gay,
Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Patients?
› The term cultural sensitivity (also known as cultural responsiveness, cultural awareness,
and cultural competence) refers to a person’s ability to interact effectively with persons of
cultures different from his/her own. Respective to health care, cultural sensitivity is a set
of behaviors and attitudes held by clinicians that allows them to communicate effectively
with patients of various cultural and social backgrounds and to plan for and provide care
that is appropriate to the individual and their cultural and/or social background
• What: Culturally sensitive (CS) care for LGBT patients is holistic and incorporates
recognition of sexual orientation and/or gender identity (i.e., the gender that an
individual feels on the inside, which may be different than that which they were
born with or appear to be to the outside world), as well as social and cultural beliefs,
attitudes, and preferences when planning and providing care. CS care for LGBT patients
typically involves promoting patient comfort, providing LGBT-appropriate education
and resources, encouraging emotional support for the patient and family, inquiring about
patient preferences, using culturally-appropriate language, creating an environment that
is affirming and welcoming to LGBT patients and families, and promoting visitation by
the patient’s family and other members of his/her support network
• How: CS care for LGBT patients is provided based on information from patient/
family interviews, completed written questionnaires, if available, and facility protocols
regarding care for LGBT patients. Interventions can involve face-to-face interactions
with the patient and family members, communication with members of the healthcare
team regarding CS care for LGBT patients, and referral of the patient and/or family
members for assessment and treatment of presenting medical and psychosocial needs
• Where: CS care can be provided for LGBT patients in any healthcare setting, including
inpatient and outpatient settings, and in the home
• Who: CS care can be provided for LGBT patients by any appropriately trained
healthcare clinician. All members of the healthcare team should actively practice
CS care. Depending on the specific intervention, some duties may be delegated to
unlicensed clinical staff members (e.g., nurses’ aides). It is generally appropriate for
family members to be present during the provision of CS care for LGBT patients,
although care should be taken to respect the patient’s privacy at all times and to avoid
inadvertently “outing” the patient (i.e., communication that shares any aspect of the
patient’s sexual orientation and/or gender identity with individuals who may not be privy
to this information)

What Is the Desired Outcome of Providing Culturally Sensitive
Care for LGBT Patients?
› The desired outcome of providing CS care for LGBT patients is that the patient
• understands what to expect and becomes comfortable participating in and adhering to
the individualized CS plan of care.

• feels satisfied with the care received, and when asked, states that the care appropriately incorporated and respected his/her
gender identity and/or sexual orientation and cultural/social attitudes, beliefs, and preferences.

Why Is Providing Culturally Sensitive Care for LGBT Patients Important?
› Providing CS care for LGBT patients is important because it
• promotes clear communication and effective interaction between LGBT patients and members of the healthcare team
• allows for planning and delivery of appropriate, individualized, and effective care for the LGBT patient
• promotes the patient’s prompt treatment and rapid recovery from presenting medical concerns
• promotes social, emotional, and spiritual support for the patient concerning any personal stressors that he/she may be
experiencing
• creates a supportive and welcoming environment in which the LGBT patient can feel comfortable

What You Need to Know Before Providing Culturally Sensitive Care to LGBT Patients
› Cultural sensitivity is a key aspect of nursing practice because nurses care for patients and families of many different cultural
and social backgrounds. Nurses should have knowledge of cultural/social beliefs, attitudes, and preferences of the patients
and families they serve so that they can communicate effectively and provide appropriate, individualized patient care. In
addition to verbally asking the patient/family about their preferences, relevant information may be obtained by asking the
patient/family to complete a written questionnaire, if available
• Self-reported information (i.e., information given directly by patients and/or family) is more reliable and accurate than
information based on assumptions by clinicians
• Questionnaires administered to LGBT populations should incorporate non-biased, gender neutral language (e.g., “partner”
in lieu of “husband” or “wife”)
› After information about sexual orientation and/or gender identity and cultural beliefs, attitudes, and preferences is obtained,
clinicians can use this information as a basis for planning culturally-appropriate patient care strategies. The following
characteristics related to healthcare are common among LGBT patients, and may be helpful to keep in mind when planning
and executing nursing care:
• In addition to biological family members, many LGBT persons have a “chosen family” of close friends and neighbors
• Currently, child-rearing is as common among lesbian women as it is among non-LGBT women; about a third of both
groups are raising children under the age of 18 in the home
–However, current LGBT older adults are less likely to have children and more likely to live alone than heterosexual older
adults; therefore, the need for elder care and support services is greater among this population
–LGBT older adults are also more likely than non-LGBT older adults to serve as caregivers for relatives and family friends
• Due to concerns about stigma and discrimination, LGBT patients may be reluctant to disclose their gender minority status
to healthcare providers
› Necessary nursing knowledge prior to providing CS care for an LGBT patient includes the following:
• Principles of effective and appropriate communication with LGBT patients/family members
• Principles of standard care for the patient’s presenting medical concern(s)
• Knowledge of LGBT issues and LGBT-relevant educational and community resources
› Preliminary steps that should be performed before providing CS care for the LGBT patient include the following:
• Review the facility-wide and/or unit-specific protocol for providing CS care for LGBT patients, if available
• Review the treating clinician’s orders related to providing CS care for LGBT patients
• Verify completion of facility informed consent documents
› Typically, the general consent for treatment executed by patients upon admission to a healthcare facility includes standard
provisions that encompass providing CS care for LGBT patients
› Review the patient’s medical history/medical record for information about
• any allergies (e.g., to latex, medications, or other substances); use alternative materials, as appropriate
• the patient’s gender identity and/or sexual orientation and any social/cultural beliefs, attitudes, and preferences related to
treatment

Write two paragraphs summarizing this case study.

Answer 1

Healthcare professionals are one who should be knowledgeable of cultural specific or cultural competent care of their patients .This is equally important even for a LGBT community patient because all are humans in this world with equity in care. It should be holistic approach by providing emotional support education , comfort resources and involving family members in the treatment and care,meeting medical and psychological needed. This service can be offered in home or healthcare setting byvtrained health care clinicians .The nursing aides can provide supportive or addictive care to these patients .

This CS care can make active participation of the patient in the treatment regimenand improve their satisfaction level. It is important for clear communication ,better planning ,to get relieved from any stressors and improve support system . Nurses are the key professionals in providing a patient centered care collecting the compete history ,problems and needs.Duribg this it is essential to collect the data regarding chosen family ,child rearing practice .The older LGBT clients are in more healthcare needs than the other .In simple the nurse should be culturally competent to meet and care for these types of patient.