American Academy of Nursing Releases Gender Affirming Care Policy Dialogue Meeting Proceedings

Proceedings Feature Policy Recommendations, Discussion Summaries
Recording from Dialogue Now Available to the Public

Washington, DC (April 4, 2024)—The American Academy of Nursing (Academy) has released the meeting proceedings and recording from the November 2023 Policy Dialogue, “Nursing’s Responsibility to Our Patients and Our Profession: Countering the Attacks on Transgender and Gender-Diverse Health,” hosted by the Academy’s LGBTQ+ Expert Panel. The Academy’s Policy Dialogues convene thought leaders to discuss a pressing topic and to propose policy recommendations that champion the organization’s policy priorities to advance health equity.

Expert Panels, one of the major forces within the Academy for developing new knowledge to transform health policy, are comprised of Fellows recognized for their expertise. Through consensus building and collaboration, Academy Expert Panels advance evidence-based solutions to the most complex health care challenges. In hosting Policy Dialogues, Expert Panels lead engaging discussions to further enhance awareness and consider policy proposals that work to achieve the Academy's vision of healthy lives for all people.

The Academy is pleased to release the summary and recording for this Policy Dialogue, focused on policy issues related to transgender and gender-diverse people’s health in an effort to help raise awareness. This event explored the political and social factors that challenge the practice of this evidence-based care, the challenges providers face in safely delivering this care, and the harms patients and communities face when this care is denied. Participants discussed the impact these attacks have on health equity and nursing’s responsibility to mitigate patients’ harm.

Key takeaways from the dialogue include:

• Gender-Affirming Care is Medically Necessary, Evidence-Based Health Care That Improves Patients’ Health and Quality of Life
• Nurses Must Be Allies, Advocates, and Activists in Support of Transgender and Gender-Diverse People
• Nursing’s Expertise is Needed to Combat Misinformation and Harmful Narratives Against Transgender and Gender-Diverse People
• Nurses Can be Powerful Agents for Societal Change Through Partnership and Collaboration
• Emphasizing Shared Values Can Unify Efforts Against Divisive Legislation or Narratives

Speakers for the dialogue, listed in order of presenting, included:

• Paula M. Neira, JD, MSN, RN, CEN, FAAN, Program Director of LGBTQ+ Equity and Education, Johns Hopkins Medicine Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Health Equity
• Linda Wesp, PhD, MSN, RN, FNP-C, APNP, Assistant Professor, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, School of Nursing - College of Health Professions & Sciences
• Dallas Ducar, MSN, RN, NP, CNL, FAAN, Chief Executive Officer, Transhealth
• Liam C. Hein, PhD, RN, FAAN, Associate Professor & Director of Faculty Pipeline and Academy Programs, University of South Carolina College of Nursing

The Academy’s Meeting Proceedings are available to view online. Learn more about the Academy’s Expert Panels.

Nursing continuing professional development contact hours for this event are available for purchase online here. The American Academy of Nursing is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. Contact hours are awarded following the completion of the event and the event evaluation.