2SLGBTQIA+ Liaison Nurses

2SLGBTQIA+ Liaison Nurses are available to provide emotional support, healthcare advocacy, connection and referral to community and social resources. Additionally, they can provide education to yourself and your family, and facilitate connection to gender affirming care as needed. Ultimately, our goal is to promote physical, psychological and cultural safety to members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ Community in the hospital setting.

This hospital-based service is the first of its kind here in B.C.

Through this work, we hope to reduce barriers for 2SLGBTQIA+ patients, clients and families and facilitate access to important health services.

2SLGBTQIA+ Liaison Nurses can help

We are here to help! 

Whether it be emotional and physical support in the hospital, referral to community services, or support through care and safety planning with other care areas – the 2SLGBTQIA+ Liaison Nurse is here for you. You have a right to receive the same care that would be provided to people who are not 2SLGBTQIA+.

Here are some examples some of the specific supports we can provide you:

• Provide assistance and support during medical or nursing procedures, including ensuring your gender and sexuality information is safeguarded.
• Work with you to understand health care issues and provide emotional support and advocacy for you and your family during a hospital stay.
• Discharge planning and communication with community contacts, as well as referral to community health services, Spiritual Health and community social and peer support as requested.
• Answer questions and provide education for you and your family regarding 2SLGBTQIA+ health and affirming care (e.g. sexual health, substance use, binding and tucking, and more)
• Support your safety though care and safety planning with the relevant care areas and bridge knowledge gaps care providers may have around gender affirming medications and surgeries.
• Reduce barriers to ensure family/friends can be there to support you, such as getting a hardship parking pass for one family member.

As a 2SLGBTQIA+ patient, you have a right to:

• Your name, birthdate and Public Health Number are usually all that is required to identify yourself to your care provider. If you have haven’t updated your name on your BC Services Card, you may be asked to provide your phone number and mailing address.
  • Please note, you do not need to disclose your assigned gender at birth, dead name, gender affirming hormones or surgery to any care provider unless clinically relevant.
• Ask questions about your health care and actively participate in decision making regarding your care—this can include getting a second opinion from another doctor, nurse, nurse practitioner, or other care provider.
• Be acknowledged as an individual and be cared for in a respectful, dignified and culturally safe manner by health care professionals. In all situations care providers must respect your name and gender identity.
• Privacy and confidentiality of your health information, and be provided access to the information in your health record.
• Refuse to have students, residents and other training present during your appointment or examination and to refuse treatment-- unless you have a serious communicable disease that could harm other people or have been identified as danger to yourself or others under the Mental Health Act).
  • Regardless of voluntary or involuntary admission, you are still able to consult with the 2SLGBTQIA+ Liaison Nurse 

Emily Wyatt, Royal Jubilee Hospital's first ever 2SLGBTQIA+ Liaison Nurse.

Emily is a Registered Nurse with experience in emergency and gender affirming care and lived experience as a member of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community as a transwoman.