Supporting LGBTQ+ students: a focus group study with Junior High School nurses

Laiti, M, Pakarinen, A, Parisod, H, Hayter, M ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2537-8355, Sariola, S and Salanterä, S (2024) Supporting LGBTQ+ students: a focus group study with Junior High School nurses. Journal of School Nursing, 40 (3). pp. 295-304. ISSN 1059-8405

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Abstract

LBGTQ+ students often miss the support and information they need in the school nursing, but little is known about junior high school (JHS) nurses’ work with LGBTQ+ students. 15 JHS nurses were interviewed in focus groups about their perceptions of supporting LGBTQ+ students. Four interconnected themes were identified with inductive thematic analysis: (1) JHS nurses’ professional identity and practice; (2) Recognition of sexual and gender diversity in school; (3) Family acceptance process; and (4) LGBTQ+ students as school nursing clients. JHS nurses self-identified as accepting professionals, but having limited skills, knowledge, and education needed in supporting LGBTQ+ students. Supporting LGBTQ+ students is a complex phenomenon, and to enhance JHS nurses’ competence in providing care for these students, sexual and gender diversity needs to be included in evidence-based nursing information sources, covered in nursing education, and the school needs to be secured as LGBTQ+ safe place.