[hen-ui-dynamic-experience placement=”aboveTheFold” /][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]It may come as a surprise that accredited nursing schools in the U.S. do not always require training or coursework related to disparities in healthcare for LGBTQ+ patients. Nurses’ HEALE, a program that equips nurses to care for the elder LGBTQ+ population, points out there is currently no mandate to address inequity in LGBTQ+ care within a nursing curriculum. However, because this community does experience a higher rate of disparity in access to healthcare, most providers agree that [hen-ui-link href=”https://bmcmededuc.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12909-019-1727-3″ target=”_blank”]LGBTQ+ healthcare[/hen-ui-link] should be covered in training.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Ensuring [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/lesbian-gay-bisexual-and-transgender-health” target=”_blank”]quality healthcare for LGBTQ+[/hen-ui-link] people, including intersex and asexual individuals, increases overall well-being and life expectancy. It may also help to lower healthcare costs, making care more accessible. This can be especially important among youth, who face [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/disparities/health-disparities-among-lgbtq-youth.htm” target=”_blank”]significant stigmatization and discrimination[/hen-ui-link] that contribute to poor health outcomes. It is the responsibility of nurses and other providers to close these gaps and improve healthcare for this population.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]On this page, find a selection of continuing education courses designed to give nurses the [hen-ui-link href=”/resources//cultural-competence-in-nursing/”]culturally competent[/hen-ui-link] skills and knowledge they need to provide more equitable care and create welcoming environments for their LGBTQ+ patients. These courses cover a range of topics, including why sexuality education is a must for adolescents, using more inclusive language, and understanding how to manage specific conditions.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Most programs are accredited and provide continuing nursing education (CNE) credits and contact hours that apply toward license renewal requirements. Nurses in Washington, D.C., for example, must complete LGBTQ+-specific continuing education. Before enrolling in any program for credit, confirm that your state’s board of nursing will accept it.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]LGBTQ+ Care Training Programs and Resources[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-separator /][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]The National LGBTQIA+ Health Education Center[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.thehrcfoundation.org/professional-resources/the-national-lgbt-health-education-center” target=”_blank”]National LGBTQIA+ Health Education Center[/hen-ui-link] is committed to preparing healthcare providers to deliver the most optimal care to LGBTQIA+ people via a selection of online webinars and self-paced learning modules. Both the webinars and modules are eligible for higher education credit, with most counting for CNE or continuing medical education (CME) credits.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The organization recommends all providers begin with the general introductory webinar, Achieving Health Equity for LGBTQIA+ People (2020). It covers basic terminology and concepts, as well as best practices for working with LGBTQIA+ patients. Other module options address more specific topics. These might include working with patients in different age groups, specific health conditions (such as diabetes, sexually transmitted diseases or infections, and reproductive health), and adopting strategies to reorganize departments for greater inclusivity.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]As a program of The Fenway Institute, all of the educational resources offered by the National LGBTQIA+ Health Education Center are free.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]LGBTQ: Culturally Competent Care Considerations Nursing CE Course[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Available [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.nursingce.com/ceu-courses/lgbtq-culturally-competent-care” target=”_blank”]online at NursingCE[/hen-ui-link], this 2.0 CNE course is accredited by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). It is designed to prepare healthcare providers who work with LGBTQ patients to improve community health. In the course, learners explore issues related to LGBTQ health, develop culturally competent skills and language, and adopt gender-affirming medical interventions.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]You can complete the online educational module for free and then sign up to take the assessment. Credit is awarded for an assessment score of 80% or higher. You only need to pay a nominal fee if you choose to print your credit certificate.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]GLMA Continuing Education Resources[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ Equality is the world’s largest and oldest professional association for LGBTQ healthcare providers. They are committed to advancing the healthcare of the LBGTQ community, including asexual and intersex people, through [hen-ui-link href=”http://www.glma.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=Page.viewPage&pageId=924&grandparentID=534&parentID=534″ target=”_blank”]continuing education opportunities[/hen-ui-link] including an annual conference and online webinars.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]GLMA’s free, four-part online webinar series, Quality Healthcare for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender People, is not offered for CNE/CME credit. Yet, the series is valuable to providers who wish to understand the needs of LGBTQ patients, create welcoming and inclusive environments, and provide exceptional care for transgender patients.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Other educational opportunities at the GLMA annual conference can be completed for CME and CNE credit. Accredited by the California Board of Registered Nursing, these educational programs are offered through the conference typically held in September. Once completed, nurses can request a certificate for a small fee. The conference is open to all healthcare providers.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Nurses’ Health Education About LGBTQ Elders (HEALE) Cultural Competency Curriculum[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The Nurses’ [hen-ui-link href=”http://www.nursesheale.org/” target=”_blank”]HEALE curriculum[/hen-ui-link] helps elevate nursing skills in delivering culturally competent care to older or elderly members of the LGBTQ community. Many community members face significant barriers to care and often avoid routine care due to fears of discrimination.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The HEALE program is delivered in person by trained educators who visit healthcare facilities. The six-module curriculum covers a range of issues related to LGBTQ elders, including HIV and aging, sex and sexuality, clarifying terms like asexual, legal issues, and caring for transgender elders. Nurses earn 1.0 CNE for each completed module.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) Community[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]This $15 course offered through [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.continuingeducation.com/course/the-lesbian-gay-bisexual-transgender-and-queer-lgbtq-community-part-1-rel-acu-0-sw60236″ target=”_blank”]continuingEDUCATION[/hen-ui-link] is approved for 1.5 contact hours by multiple agencies, including the ANCC, the California Board of Registered Nursing, and the District of Columbia Board of Nursing. Delivered as an online course, it seeks to give nurses greater insight into issues the LGBTQ community faces when accessing healthcare.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]A wide range of healthcare providers, including nurses, physical and occupational therapists, social workers, and pharmacists, would find the course beneficial. It covers the history of the LGBTQ community and their interactions and experiences with healthcare. It also offers general practice guidelines for all providers in caring for LGBTQ patients.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]LGBTQ Cultural Competence Training[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Nurses receive two contact hours when they complete this training focused on providing respectful and quality healthcare to patients who identify as LGBTQ+, including intersex and asexual individuals. This course from [hen-ui-link href=”https://wildirismedicaleducation.com/courses/lgbtq-cultural-competence-training” target=”_blank”]Wild Iris Medical Education[/hen-ui-link] aims to give nurses tools to eliminate discrimination or stigmatization in healthcare by covering such topics as legal issues, privacy, delivering culturally competent care, and managing risk factors and their clinical implications.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The $18 course is accredited by the ANCC and approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing. The material is delivered online via a self-paced module, followed by an online assessment. Only students who earn 70% or higher on the assessment earn credit. Nurses in Washington, D.C. should complete the District of Columbia-specific version of the course.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]It’s About Time: Why Students Deserve Comprehensive Sexuality Education[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Offered by the National Association of Student Nurses (NASN), [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.pathlms.com/nasn/courses/14777″ target=”_blank”]this program[/hen-ui-link] was originally a presentation at the NASN 2019 Conference. The course presents a case for more comprehensive sexuality education beyond the traditional “abstinence only” approach. It shows how it is vital to improving public health outcomes in teens and young adults. The course also discusses how the current approaches to sexual education exclude LGBTQ+ and other marginalized groups, putting them at risk for poor health outcomes.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Designed for nurses interested in child and adolescent health and development, the course is free to NASN members and $20 for nonmembers. Nurses earn 1.25 contact hours upon completion of the online modules and assessment. The course is accredited by ANCC.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Additional Resources for LGBTQ+ Care[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-list variant=”unordered” bullet-style=”check”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-link href=”http://www.glma.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=Page.ViewPage&PageID=939″ target=”_blank”] GLMA Healthcare Provider Directory[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-heading] GLMA hosts a free directory of healthcare providers welcoming to LGBTQ patients. GLMA requires providers to affirm their commitment to the health of the LGBTQ community. Members of GLMA and associated community organizations are noted in the directory.[/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.cdc.gov/lgbthealth/about.htm” target=”_blank”] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-heading] The CDC provides a comprehensive overview of healthcare-related issues and resources for individuals and healthcare providers.[/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-link href=”http://www.glbthealth.org/CommunityStandardsofPractice.htm” target=”_blank”] GLBT Health Access Project (Community Standards of Practice)[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-heading] A collaboration with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, the standards of care outlines a framework for healthcare providers to ensure equitable access, culturally competent healthcare professionals, and a more responsive environment.[/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-link href=”http://www.trans-health.com/” target=”_blank”] Trans-Health.com[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-heading] A comprehensive site for the transgender community, Trans-Health offers reliable information related to health issues (physical and mental), aging, sexuality, transitioning, surgery, and more. The site includes several resource directories, such as a directory of gender-affirming medical providers and surgeons.[/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.womenshealth.gov/” target=”_blank”] Office on Womens Health[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-heading] This government resource focuses on a wide range of womens health issues, including those dealing with sexuality, relationships, and sexual health.[/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-link href=”https://cancer-network.org/” target=”_blank”] LGBT Cancer Network[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-heading] The network provides valuable resources to support members of the LGBTQ community who are dealing with cancer and promotes access to LGBTQ-friendly healthcare. The organization also helps patients manage a cancer diagnosis and delivers up-to-date information and assistance.[/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.hrc.org/resources/healthcare-equality-index” target=”_blank”] Healthcare Equality Index 2020[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-heading] The equality index is an objective benchmarking tool that evaluates more than 1,700 healthcare facilities on policies and practices that influence the equity and inclusion of the LGBTQ community including patients, visitors, and employees.[/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-link href=”https://interactadvocates.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/interACT-Lambda-Legal-intersex-hospital-policies.pdf” target=”_blank”] Providing Ethical and Compassionate Health Care to Intersex Patients[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-heading] Provided by the nonprofit group InterAct, this guide outlines healthcare policies that support the care for intersex people who are born with or develop differences in sex traits or reproductive anatomy.[/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.lgbtqiahealtheducation.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Providing-Affirmative-Care-for-People-with-Non-Binary-Gender-Identities.pdf” target=”_blank”] Providing Affirmative Care for Patients with Non-binary Gender Identities[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-heading] A guide for all members of a healthcare organization, this resource provides terms and definitions, expert-informed practices, and data on how staff members can improve experiences and offer inclusive care for patients with nonbinary gender identities.[/hen-ui-list-item][/hen-ui-list][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Reviewed by:[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”lg”][hen-ui-expert-bio name=”Angelique Geehan” img-src=”https://res.cloudinary.com/highereducation/image/upload/e_grayscale/c_scale,f_auto,w_300/v1617058478/experts/Angelique_Geehan.jpg” img-alt=”Angelique Geehan” layout=”horizontal” background=”none” /][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ slot=”contentRight”]A queer Asian gender-binary nonconforming parent, Angelique Geehan founded [hen-ui-link href=”https://interchangeagents.weebly.com/who-we-are.html” target=”_blank”]Interchange[/hen-ui-link], a consulting group that offers anti-oppression support through materials and process assessments, staff training, and community building. Geehan works to support and repair the connections people have to themselves and their families, communities, and cultural practices.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ slot=”contentRight”]She organizes as a part of National Perinatal Association’s Health Equity Workgroup, the Health and Healing Justice Committee of the National Queer and Trans Asian and Pacific Islander Alliance, the Houston Community Accountability and Transformative Justice Collective, the Taking Care Study Group, QTPOC+ Family Circle, and Batalá Houston.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ slot=”contentRight”]Geehan is a paid member of our Healthcare Review Partner Network. [hen-ui-link href=”/healthcare-review-partners//”]Learn more about our review partners[/hen-ui-link].[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-flex]