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In my sophomore year of college, I attended a discussion with Linda Orsi Robinson, an alumna, nurse-midwife, and volunteer with Doctors Without Borders. More than give a talk, Linda planted a seed. While she recounted her experiences working in maternal public health in the war-stricken Democratic Republic of the Congo, I began to envision for myself a future of public health nursing. I contemplated the multitudinous needs of society locally and globally and began to research the area of LGBTQ+ health. After reflecting, I realized primary LGTBQ+ healthcare as the ultimate alignment of my passions with the needs of society. I see public health as a path toward this role.
I appreciate public health because of its emphasis on humanization in
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Recently, a professor lent me her copy of the book, Maternal and Child Health, by Jonathan B. Kotch. As I perused the public health text, I found only one paragraph about LGTBQ+ individuals, and this paragraph cited just one piece of research, which was more than fifteen years old. This, to me, highlights an area of need for attention, research, support, and public awareness. I do not immediately foresee myself crafting research proposals to offset this fifteen-year deficit. However, I do foresee myself providing comprehensive primary sexual and reproductive health care to LGBTQ+ individuals and communities, whether accompanying an adolescent in learning about intimate relationships; a trans* person in their sexual identity development; or a couple in their surrogate pregnancy. As a gay young adult, I hope to provide this care in a focused, sensitive, and relatable way, at once carving out a niche in the practice of public health nursing, while simultaneously meeting the underserved needs of LGBTQ+
Mercer, L. R. & Berger, R. M. (1989). Social service needs of lesbian and gay adolescents. Adolescent Sexuality: New Challenges for Social Workers. Haworth Press.
Nursing theory is one of the first topics taught in nursing school. Nursing theory gives the nurse a base for identifying with their patients, organizing and analyzing information collected, to assist their patient. Many patient populations present with specific issues and concerns; nursing theory aids the nurse in seeing their patients as individuals and helps to tailor care as such. Across the lifespan, people’s needs with respect to health care are constantly changing and for the members of the transgender community this is especially true (McCann & Sharek, 2015). Studies indicate that services available to the transgender community are limited at best; and for the services that are available, healthcare professionals are undereducated and at times insensitive to the needs of this population (McCann & Sharek, 2015). By examining Peplau’s Theory of Interpersonal Relationships, this paper will explore how using this theory will help the nursing professional provide quality care to members of the transgender community.
The Civil Rights Movement attempted to correct the failures of Reconstruction, but it was not executed well. The movement was counteracted by the many conflicts it faced due to the opposition of what it was fighting for.
It is important to identify at risk populations who suffer from health care disparities in order to decrease these disparities. Health care disparities can result in negative health outcomes when at risk populations are not afforded proper health treatment. According to Ranji, Beamesderfer, Kates, and Salganicoff (2014) health concerns and risk factors affecting the LGBT community include HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), drug abuse, mental health issues, and sexual and physical violence. The LGBT community is an at risk population due to barriers in health care linked to discrimination, prejudice, social stigma, and lack of access to health insurance especially for same-sex couples. (Healthypeople.gov 2013). It is important to identify community resources in the city of Houston for LGBT people in order to improve the health, safety, and well-being of these individuals. In an effort to promote the health of LGBT people, a health and wellness plan should be targeted within the LGBT community in the city of Houston.
This study aims to answer the question: Does religion impact the importance of an individual’s sexual identity? Promise Zone strives to offer the same opportunities and supports to any Broome County family regardless of the family’s race, religion, sex, gender, etc.; meaning they work with LGBT families of color. This evaluation was conducted to increase Promise Zone’s ability to offer opportunities and support to LBGT families of color. Promise Zone workers to have a better understanding of religious LBGT families, and how to better adapt and meet their needs.
In today’s society many countries and even citizens of the United States question the U.S. government’s decision to get in involved in nuclear warfare. These people deemed it unnecessary and state that the U.S. is a hypocrite that preaches peace, but causes destruction and death. Before and during World War II the U.S. was presented with a difficult decision on whether or not to develop and use the atomic bomb.
Action: To provide LGBTQ Veterans with holistic care, attended the “The Camouflage Closet” presentation which provided her with the comprehensive training she uses in providing care to these Veterans. On one occasion, she was able to utilize the skills she used from this training to provide care to a male Veteran and his husband who identified as being gay and Jewish. Outcome: Both the patient and spouse were amazed and grateful for the care she provided. Sustainability: Shared this information with her coworkers to raise awareness and give strategies for being sensitive to the needs of LGBTQ
It is very reasonable to conclude that research on depression of those who identify as gay, lesbian or transsexual is not accurate; there is an underreporting of people who identify as these sexual orientations because of the fear of being different. It is understood that those apart of the LGBTQ community actively hide their identity in hopes to avoid being rejected or abused (Bird, 2013). Once the reporting issue of having a smaller percentage of the actual representation of the LGBTQ population is put aside, there is evidence that highly suggests that lesbians and gay men are at higher risk for psychiatric disorders than heterosexuals (Cochran, 2001). Even after underreporting, there is still enough information to conclude that sexual discrimination can have harmful effects on the quality of life. Common factors that have been observed in lesbians and gays that can potentially increase depression during Cochran's study are anxiety and mood disorders and decreased self esteem. Cochran and her partner also noted that dissatisfaction with how one is treated beca...
The emergency room is intense and emotional atmosphere. In one instance, I witnessed a mother harass and demine her own child over being a part of the LGBT community. Fearing my potential overstepped boundary and even punishment, I entered the patient’s room, once the mother stepped out, to assure the patient that there is no reason to be ashamed of who she is. As a member of this community, I understand the difficulties faced in medicine and aspire to advocate and provide a safe environment.
In recent years, same-sex relationships have become more encompassing in US society. State legislation is changing such as accepting gay marriages, enforcing anti-discrimination laws, and legal gay adoptions; the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community is becoming public. Gay-headed families, like heterosexuals, are diverse and varying in different forms. Whether a created family is from previous heterosexual relationships, artificial insemination, or adoption, it deserves the same legal rights heterosexual families enjoy. Full adoption rights needs to be legalized in all states to provide a stable family life for children because sexual orientation does not determine parenting skills, children placed with homosexual parents have better well-being than those in foster care, and there are thousands of children waiting for good homes.
It explains from a health perspective why Canadian Blood Services has implemented strict restrictions for gay men, and how the rule is connected to the past AIDS outbreak. This is an interesting connection to the LGBT movement for more equal treatment because men who have engaged in sexual activity with other men are unable to give blood. More than three decades after the AIDS epidemic, gay men continue to receive unfair treatment because of their sexuality and activists have continued to protest the unfair requirement. In addition, the article explains how activists were able to achieve LGBT rights especially in terms of getting more Canadians to accept homosexuality. This article shows that the quest for more LGBT polices continues as activists continue to push for equal treatment regardless of sexual
An amazing accomplishment happened on June 26, 2015 when marriage equality was legalized across the nation. Hearing this exciting news, I quickly celebrated, for I have urged for equal rights for all queer bodies (LGBT plus communities, minority races, and female bodies), which is my sole passion. I had first developed a strong opinion and passion about queer theory when I joined the debate team in 2012 and started debating over the topic; however, last year was the year I intensely debate this topic. It is amazing how far we’ve come to making progress in the queer movement: the movement that encompasses all minority bodies to end the depravity in society. Yet, it is also amazing how far we have to go to ensure true equality.
Harkness, G. A. & Demarco, R. (2012). Community and public health nursing. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Inclusion for transgender patients across all sectors of healthcare is critical to nursing because “[r]especting and caring for patients is at the very core of what the nursing profession stands for” (Cicero & Black, 2016, p. 28). The RNAO (2007) is “committed to speaking out against discrimination and social exclusion based on sexual orientation and gender identity” (p. 3). By having “an opportunity to be leaders in advocating for gender diversity” (p. 116), nurses are not only in a pivotal position to change transgender patients’ healthcare experiences, but they also have the influence to educate society as well as healthcare providers who lack knowledge and awareness on transgender health (Merryfeather & Bruce, 2014). However, if nurses fail to be educated about transgender inclusivity, “they will be unable to provide competent, compassionate, and ethical care” (p. 111) to transgender patients, and potentially cause unintended harm (Merryfeather & Bruce, 2014). Nursing education emphasizes on the importance of developing therapeutic nurse-client relationships to understand the perspective and needs of patients. However, it often fails “to adequately recognize the implications that gender identities have for comprehensive and appropriate healthcare delivery” (Kellett & Fitton, 2017, p. 1). The therapeutic relationship cannot be established if there is discrimination from nurses due to their lack of awareness and empathy, as well as the stigma surrounding the transgender population.
Interning at the health department was my formal introduction to public health. It quickly became apparent how predominant and ubiquitous the practices of public health are in our everyday lives. I also gained a better understanding as to how critical public health is to the entire healthcare system; specifically how research and practice in the areas of community needs can make notable impacts. Working mainly in the nurse's clinic and birth and death records, I occasionally got the opportunity to help out in other areas such as the Black Infant Health Program. This program specifically caught my attention because of how valuable and requested it was for the African American community. They provided resources to empower and strengthen women throughout their pregnancy. Women were provided with information and classes so that they were informed to make better choices for caring and raising their children, in hopes that it would positively impact future generations. This is particularly important because ...