CURRENT NURSING PRACTICE RELATED TO SEXUALITY

Nurses' practices related to sexuality were examined using the Survey on Sexuality in Nursing Practice (SSNP). The sample consisted of 155 practicing, registered nurses from a variety of practice settings. Twenty percent of subjects indicated they were never involved in any sexuality-related activities and only about 12% addressed sexuality with a majority of their clients. Although subjects consistently identified sexuality as a necessary part of nursing practice, few addressed sexual concerns with clients. Weighted least squares analysis of 12 variables revealed that only those variables measuring practice setting and area, nurses' knowledge, responsibility, and comfort were useful predictors of nurses' practice related to sexuality. (C) 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.