• REQUIRED: Watch the entire YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-j8x1gUbUw.
  • Based on your initial reaction after watching this video, describe in detail each reflective prompt. Each answer should demonstrate a depth of exploration. Answer each numbered prompt in separate paragraphs.
  1. If you were assigned this birthing couple, or this birthing person, what would your reaction/feelings be? Why?
  2. What are some methods of promoting inclusivity in the healthcare setting? How can we, as nurses, help our patient feel more comfortable during a vulnerable time?
  3. Think back to the Pediatrics e-Portfolio assignment. How might using female-specific language in nursing report impact the delivery of care? How might it impact the patient’s comfort in using healthcare services, both short-term and long-term

If I were assigned this birthing couple, I would be excited to work with them and my first priority would be to make sure both of them were comfortable with the care, they were receiving. I would also want to make sure everyone else on the unit knew the situation and was going to be respectful when providing care, such as correctly addressing Ari, and being mindful of Caitlyn’s feelings as she said she was having some difficulty getting pregnant.  I would want to meet with the clients before labor, if possible, to talk about anything that they would want me to know or to do while caring for them. 

One method of promoting inclusivity in the healthcare setting would be to put the client’s pronouns in their chart or have some method of making them available to make sure that the staff is addressing them in the correct way. Another way to promote inclusivity in the healthcare setting is to be aware of your own unconscious bias and work to address that, so you can provide good care for the patient. To help the patient feel more comfortable during a vulnerable time such as a birth I would let them know that I would do whatever I could to make this a positive experience for them. I would ask them about any preferences they had of how they wanted to be addressed, who they wanted in the room etc., or if they wanted me to let the staff know about anything else. I would also ask them about if there was anything I could do that would make the experience easier or better for them.

Female specific language in nursing report might impact the delivery of care in a negative way. For example, Ari talked about how he felt apprehensive since people might assume that Caitlyn was pregnant instead of him especially when going to the doctor. If female specific language is used in report in situations similar to Ari’s the staff may be surprised when seeing the client for the first time or assume that the other partner is pregnant and in turn it may be a negative experience for the client. If clients are getting misgendered or discriminated against when receiving care or have a provider who is not using more inclusive language, they would probably be hesitant to go back to that provider if any follow up care was needed. In a long-term sense this may have a negative effect on the patient’s overall health. If they feel they are not being heard by their provider or have had a very negative experience with a provider discriminating against them they may be hesitant to use healthcare services at all.