Ideas That Work: Encourage Proper Pronoun Usage

Practical pearls from your colleagues

Being the only transgender man in the Medical-Surgical unit at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Mick Masaba, RN, BSN, knows how difficult it can be for LGBTQ+ patients to speak up and feel heard.

Mr. Masaba serves as a voice to promote gender-affirming care at the hospital. “If a patient confides in me that they are being referred to as the wrong name or pronouns, I speak with my teammates and encourage them to ask patients about their preferred pronouns,” he says. “We all want our patients to feel safe in our care.”

He also advocates for non-English speaking patients by employing Martti, a translation tool. The device allows patients to speak with an interpreter over video calls, which helps bridge the communication gap between patients and providers. “A patient’s needs are not met when they are unable to share how they truly feel,” says Mr. Masaba. “We need to hear what patients have to say in their own words so we can understand how best to treat them.” OSM