The provision of nursing care for gay men with GI issues

The holistic nursing care of the individual is a hallmark of high-quality care; this holistic approach means that the nurse will also have to take the sexuality of the person being cared for into account. This article promotes the notion of holism and, in particular, the care of one group of patients -- homosexual men. In this article the needs of the gay patient who has undergone GI surgery are discussed in respect to their sexuality. Key terms and concepts are considered. A therapeutic nurse-patient relationship can only be achieved if the needs of the patient are taken into account; the term that the patient chooses to use when identifying his individual sexuality must be respected. Stigma, discrimination and prejudice are unwanted results of a failure to respect an individual and should be avoided. There are several instances where stereotyping and myth may occur concerning the gay patient who has undergone GI surgery, and erroneous assumptions made about the patient can thwart the unique nurse-patient bond.