Discussion #1
Role of an Advanced Nurse in LGBTQ Health The role of a nurse if to ensure safe and quality health care for their patients. The nursing advocacy policies regarding LGBTQ health aim at improving health and safety of the individuals. Through the policy, disparities and discrimination will be reduced. Health care needs of lesbians, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer are inadequately addressed in nursing theory and practice.
LGBTQ experience unique health disparities since they represent a unique population whose health needs are ignored. Nursing education barely mentions on the needs of LGBTQ and nurses are faced with problems when dealing with the patients who belong to this category. Lack of knowledge of special needs contribute to heterosexism and homophobia when taking care of these patients.
Nurses therefore are obligated to use the available resources at assess and create care environment that ensures quality health care for the LGBTQ patients. In most situations, nurses do not offer any special care to the LGBTQ patients. It is important that a patient is offered care with regard to what they identify themselves with.
Nurses achieve the identification concern through support of the patient population. By advocating for equal health opportunities, nurses contribute to the improvement health of the LGBTQ and also reduces health disparities. Some of the health disparities include increased patient longevity, reduced disease transmission and increased physical and mental wellbeing. The topic relates to Essential IV: health Policy and Advocacy. Nurses are advocates and influence policy making process by engaging with policy makers in matters relating to health.
In this case, nurses advocate for equality in health care of the marginalized group of individuals. Works Cited Dilley JA, Simmons KW, Boysun MJ, et al. Demonstrating the importance and feasibility of including sexual orientation in public health surveys: Health disparities in the Pacific Northwest. Am J Public Health. 2015;100(3):460-7.
Professor Question
Deborah Crevecoeur Instructor
You identified well the key issues facing the LGBTQ population, Carlos. As you mentioned, nursing professionals, particularly advanced practice nurses should engage in advocacy to improve the health environment for LGBTQ patients. I'd like to know what are some specific ways do you believe FNPs can be involved in improving current policy to improve LGBTQ access to health?
Discussion #2
Advocating for Health Policy for LGBTQ
Nursing advocacy policies regarding LGBTQ health aim at bringing equality in health care by looking at different needs of the diverse patients' needs. Nurses have continued to improve the health care of LGBTQ through health-related surveys aimed at identifying health disparities.
The nurses enquire on ways of remaining supportive to patient's sexual orientation and gender identity so that regular care is provided to the patient while respecting their sexual orientation.
There are measures on providing nursing students with training on special needs of LGBTQ population and ways of offering quality care despite their special needs. An advanced practice nurse supports this patient's population by advocating for policies that aim at bringing health equality to the patients.
The nurse gathers information of any special needs or forms of discrimination that affects the health of population. The information obtained is used to advocate for change in the health system with an aim of offering quality and safe health care to the entire population. In addition, barriers faced while accessing health care and barriers to equitable health care can be profoundly addressed.
Special needs by the sexual orientations brings a better understanding by government and agencies that provide health care to communities. The topic relates with Essential VIII: Clinical prevention and population health for improving health. The essential requires that an advanced nurse applies and integrates broad, organizational, client-cent red and culturally appropriate concepts.
The nurse uses evidence in care and is responsible for coming up with prevention measures of a population. Therefore the advanced nurse applies the essential to ensure that LGBTQ patient population receive all the necessary care in ensuring that they remain healthy and away from any form of health discrimination.
Works cited
Cahill SR, Baker K, Deutsch MB, etal. Inclusion of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in Stage 3 Meaningful Use Guidelines: A Huge Step Forward for LGBT Health. LGBT Health. 2015; 0(0):1-3.
Professor questions
Clinical prevention is indeed relevant to LGBTQ health. Improved management of health and access to culturally aware FNPs can help to minimize the health disparities faced by this population. What are some ways that nursing professionals can have an influence in policy-making related to this topic?