Are LGBTQ+ inclusive hospital policies associated with nurse job outcomes and quality of care? A study of nurses found that those in hospitals with high LGBTQ+ inclusion reported lower burnout, reduced job dissatisfaction, better care quality, and a greater willingness to recommend their hospitals.
The study – LGBTQ+ Inclusive Policies, Nurse Job Outcomes, and Quality of Care in Hospitals” by Hyunmin Yu, Matthew D. McHugh, José A. Bauermeister, et al – appeared in JAMA Network Open.
For this study, the researchers analyzed four survey datasets from 2021: the RN4CAST-NY/IL, including registered nurses from New York and Illinois, and the Healthcare Equality Index (HEI) data. The HEI evaluates and scores US health care facilities that voluntarily participate based on their LGBTQ+ inclusivity in policies, such as nondiscrimination policies and LGBTQ+ inclusive clinical services. The study used American Hospital Association Annual Survey data for hospital characteristics and Magnet organization data to classify hospitals by Magnet status. Data analyses were performed in December 2024.
In total, involved were 7,343 nurses from 111 hospitals.
Findings included:
- Nurses in hospitals with HEI Leader status had lower odds of high burnout and lower odds of job dissatisfaction compared with those in hospitals without the status.
- They also had higher odds of reporting excellent or good quality of care and higher odds of recommending their hospital.
According to the researchers, the findings highlight the significant association of LGBTQ+ inclusive policies with nurse job outcomes and care quality.
“Nurses in hospitals with HEI Leader status, recognized for their commitment to the highest levels of LGBTQ+ inclusion, reported lower burnout, reduced job dissatisfaction, better quality of care, and greater willingness to recommend their hospitals to family and friends. Hospitals should understand that implementing LGBTQ+ inclusive policies is not only about compliance or diversity; it is crucial for improving the overall work climate. This, in turn, enhances staff well-being and care delivery. LGBTQ+ inclusive policies should not be viewed as a nice-to-have feature or a token gesture. Instead, it is a vital component in shaping the overall organizational culture and is significantly associated with both employee satisfaction and the quality of care provided.”
With this, “hospitals should recognize that LGBTQ+ inclusive policies are not only about compliance or diversity but also crucial for improving work climate, staff well-being, and care delivery.”
