LeaDS Student Sharon Zimmerman’s Practicum Experience

Sharon Zimmerman is a Leadership in Diverse Health Care Settings (LeaDS) master’s degree program student at The University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing. She recently shared her practicum experience.

Article by Sharon Zimmerman

I recently attended the Central Texas Transgender Health Coalition’s first annual transgender health conference entitled “Critical Conversations on Wellness and Autonomy.” The topics covered included intersectionality, gender dysphoria, hormone replacement therapy (HRT), health maintenance, mental health challenges, insurance coverage, advocacy and more. Attendees began at a plenary session called “Trans 101” that covered basic terms and concepts and then split into three tracks: medical, mental health, and social services. Those who wanted to explore sessions in a track other than the one they registered for could do so, space permitting, and Continuing Education credits were available for those who were interested. Student-priced tickets were also available for $35 and quickly sold out.

I decided that it was important for me—a Bachelor’s- and, imminently, Master’s-prepared registered nurse—to go to this conference for two significant reasons. First, I am an ally and enthusiastic supporter of the transgender and gender-creative community and as both a practicing registered nurse and a graduate student I am in a unique position to drive positive change in the systems I am a part of. Many transgender and gender-nonconforming people face serious marginalization due to discrimination and violence in every major area of life including in their access to quality health care and social services.

According to Dr. Tim Cavanaugh, medical director of the Transgender Health Program at Fenway Health in Boston, although 62% of trans people surveyed in a 2008 convenience study met criteria for PrEP use, only 5% had ever used it, suggesting low awareness. Dr. Cavanaugh also shared that 40% of those surveyed in a separate study had reported having attempted suicide; 34% had tried by age 13 and 92% had by age 25. Another conference speaker reported instances of disordered eating and infections of the bladder, urinary tract, and kidneys relating to avoiding the bathroom in public spaces. My Master’s project is focused on reducing health disparities for those living in and around Austin who are trans.

Next, in order to serve this community with cultural humility, I feel it is paramount to maintain a growth mindset. I believe that the burden of education should not lie with the client, and so it is the responsibility of care givers to educate themselves. Despite the hundred or so hours of research I had already invested over the previous semester and in my personal time, I indeed did learn many significant things at the conference. I encourage anybody working in health care and social services who considers themselves a friend or ally to the trans community to attend conferences like this one, such as the upcoming Gender Infinity taking place October 13-14 in Houston.

What you can do:

Risk facing discomfort by calling people out (even supervisors) and push for safe and inclusive protocols and procedures.
Use pronouns in the signature block of your e-mail and introduce yourself using your pronouns. If you are cisgender, don’t take it for granted.
Ask all patients for their pronouns, names, and legal names, not just patients who you suspect may be transgender or nonbinary.
Correct people when they misgender somebody.
Hire trans people to educate your staff; don’t exploit them by asking them to do so for free.

Additional reading:

Grant, Jaime M., Lisa A. Mottet, Justin Tanis, Jack Harrison, Jody L. Herman, and Mara Keisling. Injustice at Every Turn: A Report of the National Transgender Discrimination Survey. Washington: National Center for Transgender Equality and National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, 2011.