Society has long dictated that individuals should act according to their biological sex, adhering to the appropriate gender role expression; however, there has been an increase in awareness and understanding of gender… Nurses are tasked with remaining knowledgeable and open-minded about these variations in gender identity and sexual orientation to provide high-quality, patient-centered care.

Biological sex refers to the sex assigned to an individual at birth, either male or female. However, there are several gender variations because the sex assigned at birth does not always correlate with an individual’s feelings about their gender.

sexual orientation — who an individual is attracted to sexually, emotionally, and/or romantically. gender identity — a person’s deeply felt, internal and individual experience of gender, which may or may not correspond to the person’s physiology of designated sex at birth. gender role expression — the way a person communicates their gender to others, such as by clothing, appearance, and mannerisms. sexual fulfillment — the state of experiencing satisfaction, pleasure, and contentment in one’s sexual relationships.