Nurse Educators' Perceptions of Teaching Patient-Centered LGBTQ+ Gender-Affirming Care to Undergraduate Students

Abstract

Nurse educators are uniquely positioned to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to provide LGBTQ+ persons with culturally congruent inclusive care. Using Quality and Safety Education for Nurses' patient-centered care competency as a framework, this study used a qualitative exploratory-descriptive design to investigate nine undergraduate nurse educators' perceptions of teaching LGBTQ+ gender-affirming care. Three themes emerged from the interviews denoting challenges: importance of patient-centered care, limited knowledge, and barriers to curricular integration. Incorporating LGBTQ+ topics across the undergraduate nursing curriculum is necessary to support the delivery of person-centered care.