ERIC Number: ED539206
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2012-Jan
Pages: 3
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity/Expression (Sexual Minority Students): School Nurse Practice. Position Statement. Revised
Bradley, Beverly
National Association of School Nurses (NJ1)
It is the position of the National Association of School Nurses that all students, regardless of their sexual orientation or the sexual orientation of their parents and family members, are entitled to a safe school environment and equal opportunities for a high level of academic achievement and school participation/involvement. Establishment of Gay-Straight Alliances (GSA) and clubs at school with the support of faculty and administration improves school climate for all students, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. GSA can help to assure these youth that they are not alone; it helps them meet others like themselves; it helps them resolve conflicts between who they are and what they are being told they should be; and it allows better communication and understanding by the general school community (Kosciw et al., 2010). School nurses can reduce stigma and isolation associated with having two parents of the same gender by using gender-neutral terms when taking a history, discussing which parent to contact when the student is ill or injured and updating forms for emergency contacts, administration of medication and permission to share medical information. School nurses, as members of the coordinated school health team, are responsible for a safe school environment and should be actively involved in improving the safety of the school environment for all students including sexual minority students and students with sexual minority parents. They should participate in advocating for, creating, and enforcing policies about name calling, bullying and violence based on actual or perceived sexual minority status of both the students and their parents. School nurses are uniquely positioned to model respect for diversity, provide confidential health services for sexual minority students in a safe environment, and reduce stigma for students with gay or lesbian parents. [For the complete report, "Position Statements, Issue Briefs, Resolutions and Consensus Statements. Revised," see ED539227. Additional authors include Susan Kelts, Deb Robarge, Catherine Davis, Suzey Delger, and Linda Compton. ]
Descriptors: Educational Environment, School Policy, Health Services, Minority Group Students, Sexual Identity, Homosexuality, School Nurses, Identification (Psychology), Sexual Orientation, Gender Issues, Role, School Safety, Clubs, Conflict Resolution, Peer Relationship, Social Attitudes, Social Bias, Consciousness Raising, Bullying
National Association of School Nurses. 8484 Georgia Avenue Suite 420, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Tel: 866-627-6767; Tel: 240-821-1130; Fax: 301-585-1791; Web site: http://www.nasn.org
Publication Type: Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Elementary Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: National Association of School Nurses
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A