Assessment and Management of LGBTQ Patients
in Healthcare: Cultural Competence,
Communication, and Inclusive Nursing Practices
(2025/2026 Study Guide).
bisexual
people who are romantically, emotionally, or sexually attracted to both male and female
genders
cisgender
people who identify with the gender that matches the sex assigned to them at birth
gay
people who are romantically, emotionally, or sexually attracted to the same gender, such as men
attracted to men
gender
set of socially constructed norms and behaviors that are taught to women and men
gender dysphoria
distress a person feels due to a mismatch between their gender identity and sex assigned at
birth
gender identity
the internal self-conception of one's gender
intersex
a term used for a person who is born with biological traits that do not fit into those that
traditionally characterize either male or female
lesbian
a term that gay women, or those women who are romantically, emotionally, or sexually
attracted to other women, may prefer to use
LGBTQ
acronym that stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer
, queer
people who are romantically, emotionally, or sexually attracted to numerous genders (male,
female, transgender, intersex, etc.) or people who identify as nonheterosexual but do not want
to use labels, such as gay, lesbian, or bisexual
questioning
a person who is unsure or is still exploring their sexual orientation or is concerned about
applying a social label to themselves
sex
refers to the physical or biological characteristics that distinguish women and men, such as
chromosomes, genitals, and hormones
sexual orientation
umbrella term that refers to romantic, emotional, or sexual attraction to persons of the
opposite gender, the same gender, or to both or more than one gender
third-person pronouns
a way of referencing a person other than the self that may or may not use gender-specific labels
(e.g., he/him, she/her, they/them)
transgender
umbrella term used to describe the full range of people whose gender identity does not match
with the sex assigned to them at birth
transgender man
refers to a person who was assigned a female sex at birth but identifies with a male or
masculine gender
transgender woman
refers to a person who was assigned a male sex at birth but identifies with a female or feminine
gender
transition
process of aligning a person's gender expression with their self-identified gender identity, which
can include social, medical, surgical, and legal changes
Culturally appropriate care
in Healthcare: Cultural Competence,
Communication, and Inclusive Nursing Practices
(2025/2026 Study Guide).
bisexual
people who are romantically, emotionally, or sexually attracted to both male and female
genders
cisgender
people who identify with the gender that matches the sex assigned to them at birth
gay
people who are romantically, emotionally, or sexually attracted to the same gender, such as men
attracted to men
gender
set of socially constructed norms and behaviors that are taught to women and men
gender dysphoria
distress a person feels due to a mismatch between their gender identity and sex assigned at
birth
gender identity
the internal self-conception of one's gender
intersex
a term used for a person who is born with biological traits that do not fit into those that
traditionally characterize either male or female
lesbian
a term that gay women, or those women who are romantically, emotionally, or sexually
attracted to other women, may prefer to use
LGBTQ
acronym that stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer
, queer
people who are romantically, emotionally, or sexually attracted to numerous genders (male,
female, transgender, intersex, etc.) or people who identify as nonheterosexual but do not want
to use labels, such as gay, lesbian, or bisexual
questioning
a person who is unsure or is still exploring their sexual orientation or is concerned about
applying a social label to themselves
sex
refers to the physical or biological characteristics that distinguish women and men, such as
chromosomes, genitals, and hormones
sexual orientation
umbrella term that refers to romantic, emotional, or sexual attraction to persons of the
opposite gender, the same gender, or to both or more than one gender
third-person pronouns
a way of referencing a person other than the self that may or may not use gender-specific labels
(e.g., he/him, she/her, they/them)
transgender
umbrella term used to describe the full range of people whose gender identity does not match
with the sex assigned to them at birth
transgender man
refers to a person who was assigned a female sex at birth but identifies with a male or
masculine gender
transgender woman
refers to a person who was assigned a male sex at birth but identifies with a female or feminine
gender
transition
process of aligning a person's gender expression with their self-identified gender identity, which
can include social, medical, surgical, and legal changes
Culturally appropriate care
