Guest Editorial: Promoting cultural competency in the nursing care of LGBT patients

Abstract

The eight principles of nursing practice developed by the professional nursing union, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) of the United Kingdom, in collaboration with the UK nursing regulatory body, the Nursing and Midwifery Council, and the UK government’s Department of Health for England set out ‘what patients, colleagues, families and carers can expect from nursing’. Patients, members of the public and healthcare staff were involved in developing the principles. They describe what safe and effective nursing care looks like, and the behaviours, attitudes and approaches adopted by nursing staff applying the principles in their practice. They describe what it means to treat people with dignity and humanity; to take personal responsibility for care provided; to manage risk; to put people at the centre of decision-making about their health and well-being; to communicate effectively; to ensure professional knowledge and skills are up to date; that care and treatment is co-ordinated, of a high standard and assures the best possible outcome; and that nurses lead by example (RCN, n.d.). Together with initiatives such as the Chief Nursing Officer for England’s rallying call for the evidence of the ‘6 Cs’ of care, compassion, competence, communication, courage and commitment in nursing (NHS England, 2014), these principles offer a framework for patient and public feedback and professional reflection on the quality of nursing. Arguably, when these principles underpin each individual’s experience of prevention, treatment and care it will improve the health and experiences of healthcare for the whole community, including that of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) people. However, evidence suggests that LGBT patients in England have poorer health and worse healthcare