Sexual orientation is the individual inclination that one has regarding sexual relations and attraction. Heterosexualism is the sexual attraction between two individuals of the opposite sex. It is considered the most basic form of sexual orientation because a majority of the population engages in this. Homosexuality is the sexual attraction of an individual to members of the same sex service (Dente, 2012). Male homosexuals are called gay while female homosexuals are called lesbians. In the past, the most basic sexual orientations were heterosexual and homosexual (Sue et al., 2019). However, these basic definitions have been expanded as the individual now has expanded individual awareness. Some individuals are attracted to members of both the sexes. These are called bisexuals service (Dente, 2012). The last category is made up of individuals who identify with a different gender than the one they were assigned at birth. Such an individual is known as a transgender. Others are intersex because their anatomy does not conform to traditional physical descriptions of male and female.
The categories described above constitute the various forms of sexual orientation found in society. These individuals may make up the population of the patients, as well as the health care professionals that work in the hospital setting (Sue et al., 2019). Although most workers will not openly discuss their sexual orientation, they will be aware of differences among other workers and with patients. Some workers can perform their duties without their personal preferences affecting their delivery of service (Dente, 2012). Others may find it is natural to be more comfortable when attending to a person who shares the same sexual orientation. The situations can be made worse by social factors such as religion, family attachments and a personal belief system. An example is a nurse with heterosexual orientation, attending to a homosexual patient (Sue et al., 2019). to navigate such an environment, then the professional must consciously apply transcultural principles. These are principles applied in the interactions with people of diverse gender identity and sexual orientation.
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Transcultural professional practice requires some level of sensitivity towards the mental state of the patient. Basically, the nurse should accept that the patient may not be fully aware of their gender identity or of their sexual orientation. Sensitivity is required when dealing with such a patient as they may require an additional time frame and more patience. Access to care should not be an issue as well (Sue et al., 2019). This is because many people under the LGBT circle are cautious and wary about accessing medical services. They fear the stigma and outright hostility that they face in some circles (Burr, 2018). A majority will only seek for medical care in places where they feel comfortable answering questions about their sexuality. Personal belief systems can affect a professional outlook and hamper the required ethical practice.
Practicing nurses in religious based institutions have a harder role to play. They have to balance their professionalism while still adhering to the religious ideals they pledge allegiance to. Different religious groups have varying views on sexual orientation (Sue et al., 2019). Their beliefs may influence many procedures right from the hiring of nurses, including the treatment of patients. Nurses may be dealing with patients who have issues surrounding their sexuality (Dente, 201. The nurses themselves may have divided opinions on the issues due to their different personal affiliation (Burr, 2018). The situation may be complicated further by a secret policy of hidden sexual orientation. A nurse may hide their orientation to avoid discrimination or to procure employment in a religious based institution. All these factors must be considered in the bigger picture of cultural considerations.
References
Burr, V. (2018). Social constructionism (pp. 1-16). Springer Singapore.
DENTE, C. (2012). Cultural Considerations When Working With Patients With a Sexual Orientation That Differs From One’s Own. Delivering Culturally Competent Nursing Care, 157.
Sue, D. W., Sue, D., Neville, H. A., & Smith, L. (2019). Counseling the culturally diverse: Theory and practice. Wiley.
