Providing Competent Care for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Patients

This vital CE course is designed for nursing professionals across all practice settings who seek to deliver inclusive, respectful, and evidence-based care to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) individuals. With a strong emphasis on cultural competency, this course enhances nurses' understanding of the unique health disparities, psychosocial challenges, and clinical needs facing LGBT populations. It fulfills the requirement for continuing education in cultural and specialty competence as mandated by several regulatory boards.

Participants will explore foundational concepts in sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression, and gain insight into the intersectionality of LGBT identities with social determinants of health. The course further examines the impact of stigma, discrimination, and implicit bias on healthcare access and outcomes, with a focus on strategies to foster a safe, affirming clinical environment.

Learning Objectives:

Upon successful completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Define key terminology related to sexual orientation and gender identity.
• Recognize health disparities and barriers to care affecting LGBT individuals.
• Apply principles of trauma-informed, affirming communication and clinical care.
• Identify risk factors for mental health disorders, substance use, and chronic illness in LGBT populations.
• Understand ethical and legal considerations related to confidentiality, disclosure, and patient rights.
• Incorporate inclusive language and practices into patient assessments and documentation.

Completion Requirements:

To complete this CE course and receive full credit, participants must:

• Register for the course.
• Review all course materials.
• Complete the post-test with a passing score of 70% or higher.
• S ubmit the course evaluation survey.

Note: Some courses may include additional requirements, such as participation in discussion boards or completion of practice exercises.

Important Disclosures:

• Conflict of Interest: The course planners, authors, and presenters have no financial or commercial conflicts of interest related to this educational activity.
• Commercial Support: This course has not received any sponsorship or financial support from commercial entities.
• Non-Endorsement: Approval of this course as a continuing education activity does not imply endorsement of any products, services, or companies mentioned within the content.
• Off-Label Product Use: No information related to off-label use of FDA-approved products is included in this course.