Honors College Theses

Publication Date

2025

Major

Nursing (BSN)

Release Option

Open Access

Faculty Mentor

Madelyn Lowrimore

Abstract

Marginalized groups such as the LGBTQ+ community are known to face healthcare disparities that negatively affect their process of navigating healthcare systems. This project explores the perceived lack of representation and understanding of the LGBTQ+ community within healthcare settings, exposing the deficits in knowledge for unique challenges and inequalities these patients may face. By viewing the literature, a myriad of complications faced by LGBTQ+ people in clinical settings can be identified. They possess a generalized feeling of mistrust towards the healthcare system. Healthcare staff overall describe low confidence with caring for this demographic. Heteronormativity’s presence in the field of healthcare alienates this community. Lastly, there is a need for further research in order to properly determine the scope of these issues and potential solutions. These findings highlight numerous opportunities for growth in cultural competency within healthcare. In order to explore the relevance of preexisting research, a survey was implemented examining the perspectives of nursing students, school of nursing faculty, and LGBTQ+ individuals. By analyzing the shortcomings of healthcare for queer individuals, a more widespread awareness of cultural competency can be cultivated. A more representative and understanding environment enables queer patients to be more prone to experience the proficient care they deserve that is equal in comparison to their cisgender, heterosexual counterparts. Healthcare requires continuously evolving standards of care, and an improved sense of cultural competency towards the LGBTQ+ community stands as one of the frontiers requiring significant progress to equate to better healthcare outcomes.

Thesis Summary

The LGBTQ+ community faces healthcare disparities that negatively affect their process of navigating healthcare systems. This project explores the perceived lack of cultural competency for the LGBTQ+ community within healthcare settings, exposing gaps in knowledge regarding unique challenges and inequalities these patients may face. Literature suggests a myriad of complications faced by LGBTQ+ people in clinical settings such as generalized feelings of mistrust towards the healthcare system, healthcare staff possessing low confidence in caring for this demographic, heteronormativity’s presence in healthcare, and a need for further research to determine the scope of these issues and their potential solutions. These findings highlight numerous opportunities for growth in cultural competency within healthcare. A survey was implemented examining the perspectives of nursing students, school of nursing faculty, and LGBTQ+ individuals. By analyzing the shortcomings of healthcare for queer individuals, a more widespread awareness of cultural competency can be cultivated. A more understanding environment enables queer patients to experience the proficient care they deserve equal in comparison to their cisgender, heterosexual counterparts. Healthcare requires continuously evolving standards of care, and an improved sense of cultural competency towards the LGBTQ+ community represents one of the frontiers requiring significant progress to improve healthcare outcomes.

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