Supporting transgender patients with their personal hygiene
Intended for healthcare professionals
Evidence and practice    

Supporting transgender patients with their personal hygiene

Helen Layton Senior lecturer in adult nursing, The Leicester School of Nursing and Midwifery, De Montfort University Leicester, Leicester, England
Penny Tremayne Senior lecturer, The Leicester School of Nursing and Midwifery, De Montfort University Leicester, Leicester, England
Wendy Norton Honorary senior research fellow, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, De Montfort University Leicester, Leicester, England

Why you should read this article:
  • To understand the importance of providing equitable and inclusive care to transgender patients

  • To recognise the challenges transgender people may face when accessing or using healthcare services

  • To be aware of areas to consider when supporting transgender patients with their personal hygiene

Attending to one’s personal hygiene is a private and ritualistic act that is linked to self-expression and is important for one’s well-being and self-esteem. Providing effective support with personal hygiene to patients can demonstrate thoughtfulness and sensitivity to their individual needs. Nurses in all fields of nursing may encounter patients who identify as transgender, but many nurses have expressed concerns about their lack of knowledge and confidence in that area of care. This article discusses the use of gender-affirming language and the factors to consider when supporting transgender patients with their personal hygiene as part of personalised, equitable and inclusive nursing care.

Nursing Standard. doi: 10.7748/ns.2023.e12110

Peer review

This article has been subject to external double-blind peer review and checked for plagiarism using automated software

Correspondence

helen.layton@dmu.ac.uk

Conflict of interest

None declared

Layton H, Tremayne P, Norton W (2023) Supporting transgender patients with their personal hygiene. Nursing Standard. doi: 10.7748/ns.2023.e12110

Published online: 21 August 2023

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