Bugging your brain like a stone in your shoe!Just a matter of life and sex!
Been reading an article for my college course concerning nurse involvement in facilitated sex for disabled people. It's kinda interesting to read that in some countries, the procurement of sex workers for disabled clients is seen as a norm although I draw the line at the nurse being present to 'assist' if needs be! It's quite an eye opening article that broadens what is generally a hidden topic for nurses... We'll ask about bowels, about continence, about rashes, itches, lumps, bumps and all but not about how often you might bonk! yet of course, sexuality is as much a part of everyday life for some as eating, drinking, washing & dressing and is equally affected by illness or injury.
I wonder if it's a societal pressure to not talk about sex or simply an individual embarrasment? In my case, I have actively supported HIV charities in the past where talking about sex was an integral part of the role (I learnt a lot from the National AIDS Manual on many sexual practices) but I still don't bring up sex as a part of my current nursing assessment... Equally, I'm not convinced that a lot of my patients would be that comfortable discussing their sex lives with me but within neurology, we often have 'younger' patients for whom sex is no doubt an active part of their lives.
If the column or checkbox exists on admission paperwork it's often simply filled in with 'lives with partner' or some such nondescript rubbish. The whole act of sex itself is not questioned as a part of the process and yet may well be of significance to the current state. Of course, if anyone has an abvious genital infection, this will be looked into but disucssions would be refferred back to the GU Clinic (Clap Clinic / VD Clinic / Special Clinic) another area in which I've worked and the only time I actually discussed sex openly with patients.
I'm not sure what the way forward is for sex discussions with patients but I expect we've got a long way to go before this actually becomes a regular, integral part of the nursing assessment of all patients. I shall look forward to my upcoming lecture with interest.
4 comments:
What about infertility clinic? When my husband and I went for our first appointment we were asked about our sexual history and how often we made love.
jan
Yes... I'd hope they'd be on the ball about such matters, just like GUM but I was thinking more mainstream general medical and surgical ward admissions... Jxx
So - old lady comes in for hip operation. Nurse enquires how often hubby is likely to jump her bones!! ;)
jan
How's about in our environment... You woman with MS? Young lad with Brain Tumor? Middle aged guy with storke...
It's about being sensible but also about ensuring you're not mssing out on things! One of our patients recently had a vaginal infection that most staff hadn't heard of. If this had been sexually transmitted there's no telling whether or not they would have considered this in part of the assessment (unlikely) whereby it may have significant implications on the patients current relationships or the health of her sexual partners...? Jxx
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