If I were assigned this birthing couple, I think I would be confused at first until I was able to meet them and learn more about their background. I think I would be nervous due to my lack of knowledge regarding transgender pregnancy and birth. I know the patient mentioned taking testosterone and that he had a mastectomy and I’m unsure if those play any role in the pregnancy. I would be happy for them and be happy to have the opportunity to care for them. This type of couple and circumstance is not common and to have the opportunity to care for and learn with them would be a great one. I would be nervous when caring for this patient because I would not want to offend him in any way, and I would be very cautious not to and to make sure I make him as comfortable as possible.
In the healthcare setting we can promote inclusivity by speaking to patients in a nonjudgmental way and not using any judgmental statements. Another way to promote inclusivity is when you introduce yourself to the patient you could state what your pronouns are. When stating what your pronouns are that can help make the patient more comfortable and share with you what their pronouns are. We can also give the patient as much privacy as possible and remove any unnecessary people when having conversations with the patient. The patient may feel more comfortable when there are less people in the room listening. Educating healthcare providers about gender identity and patient-centered care can also help promote inclusivity. Building rapport with the patient and promoting a safe space for them can also make them feel more comfortable. Listening is also more powerful than we think and sometimes just truly listening to the patient and their concerns and reassuring them can make a big difference and make them feel more comfortable.
Using female-specific language during nursing report can impact delivery of care because the nurse you’re giving report to will assume that the patient identifies as a female and care for them in that way. Also, if you are giving bedside report and using female-specific language and the patient does not identify as female then that may make them feel uncomfortable. The way I think of it is how would I feel if people were calling me another name or referring to me as something I do not identify as. I would feel uncomfortable and I would be very upset and feel as if the person didn’t care enough to learn my actual name and remember it. When you assume the patient’s identity or use language that they do not identify as this can make them uncomfortable and they are already vulnerable this can cause some patients to no longer seek medical care. If the patient does not feel comfortable then they will not seek care short-term or long-term. As a healthcare provider it is our job to make patient’s feel comfortable and we adapt to them and their needs.
