Sexual counseling of MI patients by cardiac nurses

Abstract

This study examined the assessment of sexual concerns and the practice of sexual counseling with myocardial infarction patients in a convenience sample of 171 cardiac nurses from three hospitals in the Midwest. Seventy-five percent of nurses (n = 129) had offered to discuss sexual concerns with less than 2% of their clients in the preceding year, and 71% of nurses (n = 122) had never referred clients for sexual counseling to another professional. Analysis of 17 items on the practice index indicated that nurses are not assessing sexual concerns, and specific information relevant to myocardial infarction patients largely is not being taught.