Clinical

Supporting gender-diverse young people: the role of the nurse

Why you should read this article:

To increase your knowledge of issues related to gender and gender diversity

To appreciate that gender-diverse people experience health inequities

To learn about ways to improve the healthcare experiences of gender-diverse young people

 

Gender-diverse individuals will need to access healthcare services for various reasons, with most of this care provided outside of specialist gender services. Nurses have an important role in advocating for the specific needs of gender-diverse individuals and providing person-centred care. Therefore, they have a responsibility to ensure their knowledge of appropriate terminology and gender-affirming interventions is up to date. This article provides information about gender diversity to enhance nurses’ understanding of this area to enable them to care for gender-diverse people effectively and sensitively. While the focus of this article is on gender-diverse young people, the same principles can be applied across all age groups.

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