Supporting LGBTQ+ Students: A Focus Group Study with Junior High School Nurses

Overview

Journal J Sch Nurs

Publisher Sage Publications

Specialties Health Services
Nursing

Date 2022 Mar 18

PMID 35300547

Authors

Minna Laiti

Anni Pakarinen

Heidi Parisod

Mark Hayter

Salla Sariola

Sanna Salantera

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

LBGTQ+ students often miss the support and information they need in the school nursing, but little is known about junior high school (JHS) nurses' work with LGBTQ+ students. 15 JHS nurses were interviewed in focus groups about their perceptions of supporting LGBTQ+ students. Four interconnected themes were identified with inductive thematic analysis: (1) JHS nurses' professional identity and practice; (2) Recognition of sexual and gender diversity in school; (3) Family acceptance process; and (4) LGBTQ+ students as school nursing clients. JHS nurses self-identified as accepting professionals, but having limited skills, knowledge, and education needed in supporting LGBTQ+ students. Supporting LGBTQ+ students is a complex phenomenon, and to enhance JHS nurses' competence in providing care for these students, sexual and gender diversity needs to be included in evidence-based nursing information sources, covered in nursing education, and the school needs to be secured as LGBTQ+ safe place.

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