Facilitating Culturally Safe Conversations Around Substance Use Disorder and Contraception to Provide Inclusive Care for Neurodiverse and Neurotypical Populations

Nurses are vital to facilitating patient-centered discussions on alcohol use, substance use, and contraception, yet they face significant barriers to effective communication, including time constraints, stigma, and implicit bias. This article presents an inclusive framework to support culturally safe, patient-centered dialogue, with attention to neurodiverse populations, including those with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. Drawing on the Model of the Five Principles of Cultural Safety and the Respectful Maternity Care Framework and Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guideline from the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses, we offer actionable strategies for improving communication, reducing bias, and enhancing patient trust. Training in culturally safe communication improves nurses' confidence in sensitive conversations, promotes patient-centered care, reduces stigma, and improves patient experiences. Integrating these principles into nursing education and practice equips nurses to meet patients' complex needs, advancing equitable, compassionate, and effective reproductive health care.