WVU nursing student organizes Trans Safe Zone Training
A West Virginia University School of Nursing student recently organized a Trans Safe Zone Training, inviting members of the School of Nursing and beyond to learn how to be more affirming and supportive of the transgender population, especially as healthcare providers.
Kali Fischer, who serves as the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) representative for the Student Nurses Association, contacted the WVU LGBTQ+ Center to request the training, which was led by Director Ellen Rodrigues.
“I was surprised at how much I learned,” Fischer shared. “Something that stuck with me — I usually ask, ‘What’s your preferred pronoun?’ or ‘What’s your preferred name?’ But in the training, we learned to steer away from the word ‘preferred.’ Instead, just ask what their pronouns are because preferred makes it seem like a choice. It’s very subtle, but it makes a difference.”
As nurses or healthcare providers, Fischer said these are important conversations to have, to help create safe environments for all patients, regardless of their gender identity.
“People who are trans are less likely to seek medical care because of discrimination or fear of discrimination,” Fischer explained. “From a humanitarian perspective, there’s an entire population of people not getting what they need in healthcare. Even from an economic point of view, when people aren’t getting preventative care, they’re going to the ER when it could have been prevented if they felt safe enough to go to a provider beforehand.”
As someone who identifies as bisexual, Fischer said supporting the LGBTQ+ community is especially important to her. Her first partner was trans, and she learned a lot as she helped him navigate his transition process.
“I didn’t have the language,” she said. “I didn’t know what to ask — what was appropriate and what wasn’t. I was well intentioned, but I had to learn that information. I’ve had a lot of trans friends as well, so this topic is something that’s very near and dear to my heart.”
While Fischer said the country has made big strides for the “LGB” part of the LGBTQ+ acronym, much work remains for the latter half. She said there’s not a lot of education in textbooks about healthcare for patients who are trans, which makes the training offered by the WVU LGBTQ+ Center even more important.
“That’s why I wanted to host this Trans Safe Zone Training, to be able to broach those conversations about how to be respectful, to understand what questions are and aren’t medically necessary.”
Roughly 15 attendees joined the training, and many ideas were shared about how to create safe spaces and be better allies.
“It made me feel empowered as a student. Being able to make a positive change and help bring this to students and faculty, it just makes me very happy. It makes me feel like I can make a difference and that I’m helping these issues be seen.”
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CONTACT: Wendy Holdren
Director of Communications and Marketing
WVU School of Nursing
304-581-1772; wendy.holdren@hsc.wvu.edu