Dear Colleagues,
As nurses, we hold a professional and ethical commitment to provide equitable, dignified care to every patient, regardless of who they are or who they love. Living up to that commitment requires us to honestly examine where we are succeeding, where we are falling short, and what conditions shape our ability to practice at our best.
I am writing to invite you to participate in an IRB-approved doctoral research study that does exactly that.
The study, conducted by Leila Henderson, MHA, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, through Southern New Hampshire University's Doctorate in Education program, will explore the lived experiences of registered nurses as they deliver care to LGBTQ patients. Through a confidential, interview-based study, participating nurses will have the opportunity to reflect on their training, clinical encounters, the organizational environment, and their own professional development in this area of practice. This study will seek to recruit patient-facing registered nurses from both inpatient and ambulatory sites, all clinical specialties, and experience levels are welcome. Participation is voluntary and confidential.
This research matters because the evidence is clear: LGBTQ patients experience measurable disparities in healthcare access, quality, and outcomes. Many have had experiences in healthcare settings that left them feeling unseen, misjudged, or discriminated against. Nurses are often the first, and most sustained, point of contact in those settings. What you know, feel, and what you've learned matters enormously. Leila brings a unique perspective and passion for this work as the parent of a transgender child, eager to identify ways to ensure that all nurses feel comfortable, confident, and well-equipped to provide care to LGBTQ patients.
Your honest account of your experiences, including the gaps, uncertainties, moments that changed how you practice, will contribute to a body of evidence that can directly inform how we train nurses, design our care environments, and show up for every patient who walks through our doors.
To learn more and express interest in participating, please complete this brief interest form and Leila will reach out to you directly. All inquiries are confidential.
Thank you for your ongoing commitment to excellent, equitable care, and for considering this opportunity to contribute to evidence that can strengthen it.
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