- If you were assigned this birthing couple, or this birthing person, what would your reaction/feelings be? Why?
If I was assigned this birthing couple/person my first reaction would be surprised because it is nothing I have experienced before or even heard of before. But as my job as a nurse, it is my job to put my feelings aside regardless of how I feel, to give them the best care I can and to make their experience as positive as possible. I think this situation is unique and really interesting and I would actually love to experience this and get to know more about what it is like to go through something like that. I think being a nurse to this patient would give me great experience and would be a learning experience in more ways than just the health care aspect.
- What are some methods of promoting inclusivity in the healthcare setting? How can we, as nurses, help our patient feel more comfortable during a vulnerable time?
There are many methods to promote inclusivity within a healthcare setting. I think one of the biggest ways is through education and exposure. The more people hear about “unusual” or atypical scenarios the more we become accustomed to them and it is not as much of a shock the more exposure we get. As a nurse, making patients comfortable is a big part of my job. I can do this by talking to them, getting to know them and actively listening to them and their story. Even by simply asking them how they want you to address them can make them feel more comfortable.
- Think back to the Pediatrics e-Portfolio assignment. How might using female-specific language in nursing report impact the delivery of care? How might it impact the patient’s comfort in using healthcare services, both short-term and long-term?
Using female-specific language during nursing report could impact the delivery of care. In Ari’s case, he was born a female and transitioned into a male. He identifies as a male but still has a female reproductive system and was able to become pregnant. Using words like “chest feeding” instead of “breastfeeding” can help make these individuals feel more comfortable and included. Using the wrong wording can make a patient feel anxious, or stressed which can cause adverse effects. Some short term effects that can come out of this are excess stress, nerves, and can cause the patient’s blood pressure to increase. A long term effect could be that they get birth trauma from this experience they felt so anxious or uncomfortable by the language being used.
