Registered Nurses' Attitudes Toward the Protection of Gays and Lesbians in the Workplace

Abstract

This study explores the attitudes of registered nurses toward a nondiscrimination policy in the workplace protective of gays and lesbians and the overall homophobia of nurses. A potential sample of 520 registered nurses licensed in Florida was randomly selected from the state Board of Nursing licensee database. In all, 165 surveys were used in the analysis of the data. Structural equation modeling indicated that support of a nondiscrimination policy protective of gay men and lesbians in the workplace was negatively correlated with homophobia with a critical ratio value of -4.01. Nonsupport of a nondiscrimination policy was positively correlated with homophobia with a critical ratio value of 3.23. This finding suggests that the inclusion of workplace policies protective of gay men and lesbians might help decrease homophobic and discriminatory treatment that gay and lesbian nurses often encounter in the workplace.

Educating on anti-oppressive practice with gender and sexual minority elders: Nursing and social work perspectives

“…There is also a responsibility to challenge other nursing colleagues' negative attitudes where they occur (Royal College of Nursing, 2003). Policies and practices that encourage partners to be included in health care planning meetings and decision making are strongly recommended (Blackwell, 2008;Irwin, 2007). Health care professionals engaged in research will need to focus on LGBTIA health care needs and experiences and make recommendations about how these might need to be met more appropriately (Royal College of Nursing, 2003).…”

Magnet Nurse Administrator Attitudes and Opportunities

“…2,3,6,12 More positive attitudes and beliefs among CNOs in this study were found to be positively correlated with perceived self-efficacy in advocating for LGBT staff and patients at both personal and professional levels. Although this study's findings are specific to executivelevel nurses, these findings are consistent with findings from other studies on nurses, in general, regarding negative attitudes toward LGBT individuals.…”

“…[1][2][3][4][5][6] Homonegativity is a term representing a continuum of discrimination against LGBT people. [1][2][3][4][5][6] Homonegativity is a term representing a continuum of discrimination against LGBT people.…”

“…6 It is reported that ''LGBT pop-ulationsIexperience health disparities and barriers related to sexual orientation and/or gender identity or expression. 2,3,6,[8][9][10][11][12][13] Numerous professional nursing organizations and societies, including the National League of Nursing and the National Magnet Recognition Program A , have not introduced specific standards to advocate for this population as further evidence for the need to raise awareness among the profession. 7(p206) Additional research supports that homonegativity frequently occurs within the nursing profession.…”

Heteronormative Labour: Conflicting Accountability Structures among Men in Nursing

“…Sexual stereotypes about men in nursing remain prolific (Allison et al , ) and gay and bisexual men nurses are likely to experience negative perceptions and discrimination (Blackwell, ; Harris, ). Harrison () details examples of homophobic violence experienced by gay nurses, as well as examples of nurses ostracized in the workplace and forced to curtail their care because of their sexuality.…”