The nurse is caring for a patient with gender dysphoria who is in the process of gender reassignment. The patient tells the nurse, "Why does this process take so long? I'm tired of living like the opposite sex." What is the nurse's best response?

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

2. Sexual reassignment is purposefully a protracted process, by design allowing the patient to make a social transition to the opposite gender, living and working full time in the social role for a period of time, generally 2 or more years, before any hormonal or surgical procedure begins. This social transition usually requires a name change and a change in work status. The rationale is that reversible changes should successfully precede irreversible changes. While self reflection is always encouraged, the protracted process of gender reassignment is not to determine whether or not the patient is serious about the procedure. The protracted timeframe is also not to allow the health care provider time to decide whether the patient is a good candidate for the procedure; this occurs in the first phase of the process and does not encompass the entirety of the process. The patient does not make a physical transition until after the completion of the surgical procedure.

The Nurse Is Caring for a Patient with Gender Dysphoria