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Sexuality: The challenge to espoused holistic care
Author(s) -
Higgins Agnes,
Barker Philip,
Begley Cecily M
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
international journal of nursing practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.62
H-Index - 55
eISSN - 1440-172X
pISSN - 1322-7114
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-172x.2006.00593.x
Subject(s) - human sexuality , nursing , health care , sexual function , virtue , reproductive health , medicine , psychology , sexual behavior , social psychology , sociology , political science , law , gender studies , population , environmental health
Nurses, by virtue of the close relationship with patients, are in a unique position to promote sexual health and provide sexual health advice to people in their care. Although nurses espoused the ideals of person‐centred and holistic care, evidence from research studies suggested that, for a number of reasons, nurses did not consciously and proactively engage with patients in relation to sexual concerns. In today health‐care environment, where patients are seeking information about the impact of illness and treatments on their sexual function, nurses have a responsibility to proactively engage with patients’ sexual health concerns in an informed and sensitive manner. The aim of this paper is to provide nurses with guidelines on how they might include this aspect of care within their everyday work.