The Impact of Nursing Care on Pediatric LGBTQ Youth

• LGBTQ youth face distinctive physical, emotional, and social challenges that require personalized care.  
• Many nurses report insufficient or no training on the needs of LGBT+ patients, especially in pediatric settings.  
• Challenges for caring for LGBTQ youth include lack of training and awareness, implicit bias, parental resistance, and systemic barriers.  

The healthcare industry has increased its focus on inclusivity and patient-centered care, addressing the needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT+) pediatric patients. And nurses help ensure LGBT+ youth feel safe, understood, and adequately cared for.  

LGBTQ youth face distinctive physical, emotional, and social challenges that require personalized care. A 2021 study found that, in addition to being disproportionately affected by mental health disorders, bullying, and homelessness due to parental rejection, this community is at higher risk for depression, anxiety, and suicide. 

In pediatric nursing care, these challenges are heightened by the developmental stage of adolescence. For transgender and gender-nonconforming youth, accessing gender-affirming care can be critical for their well-being. We must be prepared to address these complex needs compassionately and informally.  

Challenges in Caring for LGBTQ Youth 

Challenges for caring for LGBT+ patients include lack of training and awareness, implicit bias, parental resistance, and systemic barriers. Many nurses report insufficient or no training at all on the specific needs of LGBT+ patients, especially in pediatric settings.  

This can lead to unintentional missteps, such as using incorrect pronouns or failing to recognize signs of gender dysphoria. Implicit biases among healthcare professionals can negatively affect the quality of care provided. If we assume all of our patients are heterosexual, or dismiss the patient’s gender identity, we risk alienating LGBTQ youth and discouraging them from seeking care.  

Parents or guardians are responsible for medical decision-making in pediatric care. So when they aren’t supportive of their child’s sexual orientation or gender identity, this can lead to ethical dilemmas from a nursing perspective. 

Many institutional policies fall short of inclusivity, particularly by bypassing nonbinary gender options from medical records and limiting access to essential gender-affirming treatments. These weaknesses obstruct the provision of care that is both appropriate and safe for all individuals, ultimately impacting their overall health and well-being. 

Ensuring High-Quality Care for LGBTQ Youth 

To ensure high-quality, inclusive care, we must adopt multiple best practices, including fostering inclusive language, enhancing education and training, providing gender-affirming care, addressing mental health needs, engaging families, and advocating for policy changes. 

Some ways to do this include: 

• Asking for your patient’s preferred name and pronouns.  
• Displaying a rainbow badge buddy or safe space stickers to signal a welcoming and inclusive environment. 
• Pursuing continuing education focused on LGBT+ health.  
• Advocating for training programs to cover topics like gender-affirming care, mental health needs of LGBT+ youth, and strategies to address family dynamics.  
• Supporting transgender youth by aiding them with access to puberty blockers or hormone therapy when appropriate. 
• Support the addition of nonbinary gender markers on charts and forms. 
• Support legislation that protects LGBTQ youth from discrimination in healthcare and education. 

As the most prominent advocates a patient can have, we should feel empowered to champion LGBTQ youth rights within the healthcare system and help navigate legal or insurance barriers.  

Improving Healthcare Disparities

Quality nursing care significantly influences the health outcomes of LGBT+ pediatric patients. Studies show that LGBT+ pediatric patients who feel supported by healthcare providers report lower rates of depression and anxiety. 

Providing inclusive and affirming care can improve mental health, increase engagement, enhance self-esteem, and reduce health disparities. When patients trust and have confidence in their healthcare team, they’re inclined to stick to their follow-up appointments and consistently adhere to treatment plans. 

This trust fosters a stronger relationship between patients and their care team, leading to better health outcomes and enhanced patient engagement.

By being attentive to the healthcare challenges faced by pediatric patients within the LGBT+ community, we can provide more individualized and helpful support. This proactive process cultivates a more inclusive healthcare environment and helps reduce health disparities, ensuring that all patients receive the quality care they deserve. 

The Bottom Line

By promoting a welcoming and inclusive environment, nurses create a safe space for LGBTQ youth to feel comfortable expressing their identities and concerns. Committing to ongoing education about LGBT+ health issues and incorporating this knowledge into daily practice helps us provide the best quality of care. 

Plus, nurses are critical in advocating for systemic change within the healthcare system, including championing policies that promote equity and inclusivity and participating in community outreach.  

This commitment to equity will benefit current patients and pave the way for future generations of LGBT+ youth to receive the compassionate and dignified care they deserve. 

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