Andrew Vitola, MBA, BSN, RN-BC
Andrew Vitola, MBA, BSN, RN-BC, a nurse with HUP’s gastroenterology and infectious disease units and a member of the LGBTQ+ community, shares, in his own words, what it means to be his authentic self at work:
Taking pride can be different for everyone, but for me it's just being myself with my patients and my co-workers. I don't share my personal life with every patient, but I do help educate about some misconceptions and stereotypes in the nursing field. I get a lot of, “Hey, Doc,” or “Oh, you're a male nurse?” and I usually respond with, “Yes, I'm a nurse,” in order to break down that confusion that nurses are women and men are doctors.
Having more LGBTQ+ people on staff may help patients to be more open-minded and educated. Whether or not it improves patient care, it can break down preconceived notions or stereotypes that patients may have. Often times, we have patients from an older generation that may say things or feel a certain way due to a lack of knowledge. Having diversity in general on every nursing unit (and entity) is important for patients to see representation.
It's important to always ask questions and to continue to educate ourselves. Being a part of the LGBTQ+ community does not make me an expert in every letter of that acronym. I am still learning and educating myself regularly and I hope that members of our community (LGBTQ+ or not) are as well. Again, representation is key, because when patients see a nurse or healthcare worker that they identify with, this can add that extra layer of trust and comfort.