In past years, in honor of Pride month we spoke to experts on filling in the knowledge gap around caring for our LGBTQ+ community. In both a virtual event and the follow up blog post, topics such as the in’s and out’s of gender affirming care, the role of the bedside nurse in assessing risk, and communication tips to foster an inclusive patient-provider relationship were covered.
This year we want to take some time to spotlight some of our favorite nurses within the LGBTQ+ community to help lift up their voices and highlight the impact each of them make day to day in the world of nursing, and for their patients.
Meet the nurses
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Ask the NP, Dr. James Simmons is a Board Certified Acute Care Nurse Practitioner who is happy to delve into the topics you are too afraid to ask the doctor about. He offers a safe and trusted space where people of all identities can get real, relatable and reliable information to educate and empower them about their health. And, with more than 12 years of hospital-based critical care practice, Dr. James is not only a trusted source but also one of the most sought after voices at the intersection of the LGBTQIA+ and Black communities.
Arguably the most well known nurse in the LGBTQ+ community, Nurse Blake posts entertaining reels that are the definition of “funny cause it’s true.” From therapy dogs to breakroom realness, we appreciate the way Nurse Blake brings awareness and humor to the nursing world all in one fell swoop.
Sharon “Clatchet Nurse” (a combination of “classy” and “ratchet”) built her social media presence on the idea of sharing it all—the good, the bad, and the ugly—to give her followers a realistic picture of what it’s really like to be a nurse and to work in the medical profession. It’s a breath of fresh air to see the way she highlights that behind every nurse is a full, beautiful life that deserves to be celebrated. Give this mental health advocate and travel nurse a follow for authentic content many folks connect with.
Michael and Matt is a joint account featuring a nurse and a dentist so they really cover all the bases. Follow these two for their heartwarming love story, but also because we’re all hooked on their journey to becoming dads and they post video updates. 📹
Nurse Jay, our final account we are highlighting, is a traveler who writes a travel blog for adventurous souls and shows us all her best solo and RV travel tips. Jay is an ICU travel nurse and USAF Veteran who provides great content on traveling abroad as well as within the US. Her tips would be welcome by first time travelers as well as veterans.
Pride is year-round
While this (short) list was compiled in June, we advocate for our LGBTQ+ community year-round, both in nursing and in general. We hope that you can find something educational, something uplifting, and maybe even a laugh or two in the content these incredible folks are creating for us all. Happy Pride!
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