Promoting Clinical and Cultural Competence in the Nursing Care of Transgender Patients: An Educational Module for Postoperative Nurses Caring for Patients After Vulvovaginoplasty

Abstract

Background: Transgender women and transfeminine nonbinary individuals may pursue a vulvovaginoplasty to improve their gender dysphoria. The goal of this study was to design, implement, and evaluate an educational module to increase acute care nurses' clinical and cultural skills in the care of the transgender population after vulvovaginoplasty. Method: All nursing staff and patient care technicians working on a hospital unit caring for patients after vulvovaginoplasty attended a 4-hour educational module. Participants completed an anonymous pre- and postsurvey. Survey data were analyzed for significant change in the categories of knowledge, perceived competence, sexuality and gender beliefs, interpersonal comfort, and human value. Results: Significant improvement was noted in the categories of knowledge and perceived competence. Improvements were also noted in the categories of sexuality and gender beliefs and interpersonal comfort, but were not statistically significant. An insignificant decline in scores was noted in the category of human value. Conclusion: Increased knowledge about vulvovaginoplasty and informed, culturally safe care may improve the patient outcome and experience, and nurses may be more confident and comfortable delivering care for this population. This intervention may serve as an exemplar to other institutions that hope to offer gender care surgeries. [ J Contin Educ Nurs . 2023;54(11):509–515.]