This post is contributed by Lori Anne Boocks, Director of Marketing & Communications, The Pediatric Nursing Certification Board.  Lori reached out to LavenderHealth.org in order to let us know about the affirmative work they are doing to address the needs of LGBTQ youth!

To encourage more high school and nursing students to consider pediatric nursing careers, the Institute of Pediatric Nursing (IPN), a committee of the non-profit Pediatric Nursing Certification Board, offers free posters and downloadable flyers as part of its Campaign for Pediatric Nursing. Materials offer a wide range of cultural diversity, age ranges, and complex health needs. Men in nursing, LGBTQ youth, and family-centered care are represented as well as choosing a pediatric nurse practitioner career. Due to high interest, the LGBTQ poster is now available as a free 12×18 inch poster.

Displaying this poster in schools, clinics, and anywhere children receive nursing care sends two messages: consider a pediatric nursing career, and that this setting offers nursing care sensitive to LGBTQ concerns for youth. Faculty and clinical educators can use the poster to start dialogues with students and staff as well as reinforce the need for culturally sensitive care for LGBTQ youth.

Pediatric nurses are key to facilitating improvements for the health and well-being of LGBTQ children and adolescents. In schools, at the hospital bedside, and other settings, they have opportunities to identify concerns, start conversations, and connect children and teens to support. Pediatric nurse practitioners during annual check-ups or other interactions can play a key role in discussing issues in a safe environment. As faculty and clinical educators, nurses impact LGBTQ cultural competence. A surprisingly broad range of roles have requested the poster since its May release including community health center and home health care leadership, case managers, and elementary school nurses.

Pediatric nurses are uniquely positioned in a variety of settings to advocate, educate, and support youth and their families. The IPN recommends the following respected resources about care for LGBTQ youth:

• LGBTQ Students: The Role of the School Nurse ( National Association of School Nurses Position Statement)
• Health Risks and Needs of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning Adolescents (National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners Position Statement)
• Caring for Transgender Youth (American Academy of Pediatrics Webinar Series)
• Mental Health of Transgender Children Who Are Supported in Their Identities (American Academy of Pediatrics Article)
• Caring for the LGBT Community (Advance for RNs)
• Caring for LGBTQ Youth in Clinical Settings (National LGBT Health Education Center Module)
• Providing Services and Supports for Youth who are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning, Intersex or Two-Spirit (The National Center for Cultural Competence Practice Brief)
• Supporting LGBT Youth in Health Care Settings (Society of Pediatric Nurses Webinar – $40 non-members/free for members)