Planning for Implementing a 2SLGBTQIA+ Liaison Nurse Role in the BC Health System: Promoting Equity in Our Communities
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Year 2024
- Principal investigator Allie Slemon
- Co-lead(s) Chandra Berkan Hozempa, University of Victoria
- Host institution University of Victoria
- Research location Island Health
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Team members
- Ingrid Handlovsky, University of Victoria
- Trevor Goodyear, University of British Columbia
- Travis Salway, Simon Fraser University
- Jess Crawford, University of Victoria
- Chandra Berkan Hozempa, University of Victoria
- MJ Harris, Island Health
- Emily Wyatt, Island Health
- Becky Palmer, Providence Health Care
- Aggie Black, Providence Health Care
- Natasha Prodon-Bhalla, Provinical Health Services Authority;
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Partner(s)
BC Nurses' Union
It is well-established that Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, intersex, and asexual (2SLGBTQIA+) people are subject to discrimination within healthcare settings, leading to poor health outcomes. In fact, these instances of discrimination are growing in context of rising hate toward the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. In response, the Island Health Authority has recently launched a revolutionary role: the 2SLGBTQIA+ Liaison Nurse. This Liaison Nurse works directly with 2SLGBTQIA+ patients in the healthcare system to support: navigating the system, advocating for services, ensuring a safe and respectful healthcare encounter, and accessing gender-affirming care. Our larger project will involve scaling up and implementing this role across additional healthcare sites in BC, and evaluating the role to ensure safe, quality, and equitable care for 2SLGBTQIA+ people across the province. Funding through a C2 grant will support bringing together health authority, community, and researcher representatives to develop a comprehensive research plan for implementing and evaluating this role. In particular, funds will support a 2-Day Intensive in Vancouver to support necessary conversations in support of the project’s next steps.