Nurses' attitudes toward sexuality in adolescent patients.

This descriptive study surveyed the sexual attitudes and nursing practice of 39 nurses who care for adolescents in a large metropolitan teaching hospital. A questionnaire containing 32 Likert scale items and 29 yes/no questions was used to survey the nurses' attitudes toward the sexuality of their patients and the use of sex education and counseling in their patient care. Frequency of answers generated by the participants was used to ascertain their sexual attitudes and characteristics of their nursing practice. Findings indicate that, although the sample recognized the importance of sexuality for the adolescent patient and were theoretically capable of addressing issues of adolescent sexuality, nurses were uncomfortable incorporating issues of sexuality, counseling, and education into their nursing practice.