Abstract
Objective: To examine trends in the practice of sexual counseling by cardiac nurses. Methods: A non-experimental descriptive design was used to analyze survey data collected at 2 time points: 1994 (n = 171) and 2009 (n = 288). Results: Nurses in the 2009 sample reported more conservative values (P < .001) and greater sense of responsibility for providing sexual counseling (P < .0001) than those in the 1994 sample. Although sexual activities (cuddling, kissing, fondling, masturbation, oral sex) were discussed more frequently by nurses in the 1994 survey (P < .001), improvements in the specific discussion of myocardial infarction-related sexual activity and counseling were noted in the 2009 sample, including by patient age and gender (P < .0001). Conclusion: Comparison of the 2 data samples suggests an improving trend in provision of sexual counseling by cardiac nurses, which can be reinforced by including sexual counseling information and role-play opportunities in continuing education courses.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | e15-e24 |
| Journal | Heart and Lung: Journal of Acute and Critical Care |
| Volume | 40 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - May 2011 |
Keywords
- Acute care nurses
- Cardiac nurses
- Myocardial infarction
- Sexual counseling
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine
- Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine
- Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine