LGBTQ+ Care: Training and Resources for Nurses
Enhance your skills and cultural competence in working with LGBTQ+ patients by exploring these free or affordable continuing education and training courses. It might be surprising to learn that accredited nursing schools in the U.S. do not always require training or coursework related to healthcare disparities among LGBTQ+ patients. The Nurses’ HEALE program, which equips nurses to care for the elder LGBTQ+ population, highlights the absence of a mandate to address inequities in LGBTQ+ care within nursing curricula. However, given the higher rate of healthcare disparities experienced by this community, most healthcare providers agree that LGBTQ+ healthcare should be included in training.
Ensuring quality healthcare for LGBTQ+ individuals, including those who are intersex and asexual, contributes to overall well-being and longevity. This can also help reduce healthcare costs and increase accessibility to care. This is especially significant for young people who often face stigma and discrimination leading to poor health outcomes. It’s the responsibility of nurses and other healthcare providers to bridge these gaps and enhance healthcare for this population.
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On this page, you’ll discover a selection of continuing education courses designed to equip nurses with culturally competent skills and knowledge necessary to provide equitable care and create welcoming environments for LGBTQ+ patients. These courses cover a range of topics, including the importance of sexuality education for adolescents, using inclusive language, and managing specific conditions.
Many of these programs are accredited and offer continuing nursing education (CNE) credits and contact hours that contribute to license renewal requirements. In Washington, D.C., for instance, LGBTQ+-specific continuing education is required for nurses. Prior to enrolling in any credit-earning program, ensure that your state’s nursing board accepts it.
LGBTQ+ Care Training Programs and Resources
The National LGBTQIA+ Health Education Center
Committed to preparing healthcare providers to deliver optimal care to LGBTQIA+ individuals, this center offers online webinars and self-paced learning modules. Most of these are eligible for higher education credit, often counting for CNE or continuing medical education (CME) credits.
The center suggests starting with the general introductory webinar, “Achieving Health Equity for LGBTQIA+ People” (2020), which covers fundamental terminology, concepts, and best practices for working with LGBTQIA+ patients. There are other module options that address more specific topics, such as patients in different age groups, specific health conditions (like diabetes, sexually transmitted diseases or infections, and reproductive health), and strategies for making departments more inclusive.
As a program of The Fenway Institute, all educational resources from the National LGBTQIA+ Health Education Center are free.
LGBTQ: Culturally Competent Care Considerations Nursing CE Course
Available online through NursingCE, this 2.0 CNE course is accredited by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). It is designed to prepare healthcare providers to improve community health by working with LGBTQ patients. In this course, learners explore LGBTQ health-related issues, develop culturally competent skills and language, and adopt gender-affirming medical approaches.
You can complete the online educational module for free and then choose to take the assessment for credit. You only need to pay a nominal fee if you decide to print your credit certificate.
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GLMA Continuing Education Resources
GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ Equality is the world’s largest and oldest professional association for LGBTQ healthcare providers. They are dedicated to advancing healthcare for the LBGTQ community, including asexual and intersex individuals, through various continuing education opportunities, including an annual conference and online webinars.
GLMA’s free, four-part online webinar series, “Quality Healthcare for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender People,” is not eligible for CNE/CME credit. However, this series is valuable for providers aiming to understand the needs of LGBTQ patients, create inclusive and welcoming environments, and provide exceptional care to transgender patients.
Additional educational opportunities are available at the GLMA annual conference, which can be completed for CME and CNE credit. Accredited by the California Board of Registered Nursing, these educational programs are typically offered through the conference held in September. After completion, nurses can request a certificate for a small fee. The conference is open to all healthcare providers.
Nurses’ Health Education About LGBTQ Elders (HEALE) Cultural Competency Curriculum
The Nurses’ HEALE curriculum is designed to elevate nursing skills in providing culturally competent care to older members of the LGBTQ community. Many of these individuals face significant barriers to care and often avoid routine care due to concerns about discrimination.
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 matters, and caring for transgender elders. Nurses can earn 1.0 CNE for each completed module.
The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) Community
This $15 course, available through continuingEDUCATION, 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 aims to provide nurses with deeper insights into healthcare-related issues and resources for the LGBTQ community.
This course would be beneficial for a wide range of healthcare providers, including nurses, physical and occupational therapists, social workers, and pharmacists. It covers the history of the LGBTQ community, their interactions with healthcare, and their experiences. The course also offers practice guidelines for all providers in caring for LGBTQ patients.
LGBTQ Cultural Competence Training
Upon completion of this training focused on providing respectful and quality healthcare to patients identifying as LGBTQ+, including intersex and asexual individuals, nurses receive two contact hours. Offered by Wild Iris Medical Education, this $18 course is accredited by the ANCC and approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing. The material is delivered through a self-paced online module, followed by an assessment. Only students who achieve a score of 70% or higher on the assessment earn credit. Nurses in Washington, D.C., should complete the District of Columbia-specific version of the course.
It’s About Time: Why Students Deserve Comprehensive Sexuality Education
This program, offered by the National Association of Student Nurses (NASN), was originally presented at the NASN 2019 Conference. The course argues for comprehensive sexuality education beyond the traditional “abstinence-only” approach, emphasizing its importance in improving public health outcomes for teens and young adults. The course also discusses how current sexual education approaches exclude LGBTQ+ and other marginalized groups, putting them at risk for poor health outcomes.
Designed for nurses interested in child and adolescent health and development, the course is free for NASN members and costs $20 for non-members. Nurses receive 1.25 contact hours upon completion of the online modules and assessment. The course is accredited by the ANCC.
Additional Resources for LGBTQ+ Care
– GLMA Healthcare Provider Directory: GLMA hosts a directory of LGBTQ-friendly healthcare providers, highlighting those committed to LGBTQ community health.
– Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: The CDC offers a comprehensive overview of healthcare-related issues and resources for individuals and healthcare providers.
– GLBT Health Access Project (Community Standards of Practice): Developed in collaboration with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, this outlines healthcare providers’ standards to ensure equitable access, culturally competent professionals, and a responsive environment.
– Trans-Health.com: A comprehensive site for the transgender community, Trans-Health provides reliable information on health issues (physical and mental), aging, sexuality, transitioning, surgery, and more. The site includes directories of gender-affirming medical providers and surgeons.
– Office on Women’s Health: Focusing on women’s health issues, including sexuality, relationships, and sexual health.
– LGBT Cancer Network: Offering resources to support LGBTQ individuals dealing with cancer and promoting access to LGBTQ-friendly healthcare. The organization assists patients in managing a cancer diagnosis and provides up-to-date information and assistance.
– Healthcare Equality Index 2020: An objective benchmarking tool evaluating healthcare facilities on policies and practices influencing equity and inclusion of the LGBTQ community, including patients, visitors, and employees.
– Providing Ethical and Compassionate Health Care to Intersex Patients: A guide outlining healthcare policies supporting care for intersex individuals born with or developing differences in sex traits or reproductive anatomy.
– Providing Affirmative Care for Patients with Non-binary Gender Identities: A resource for healthcare organizations, offering terms, definitions, practices, and data on providing inclusive care for patients with nonbinary gender identities.
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