Abstract
An individual's sexuality is not always understood and recognized by healthcare workers. Some nurses have conservative and rigid attitudes regarding sexuality and undertake nursing interventions that may have a detrimental effect on a client's sexual health. If nurses are to take a responsible approach to their nursing interventions they need to reflect upon their knowledge, skills and understanding in relation to their own sexuality and the sexuality of others, and identify ways of rectifying shortfalls. The first of this two-part article discussed issues relating to sexuality in health care (Vol 8(9): 601-6). This part will use a sexual health model to highlight nurses' learning needs. Nurse educators need to include sexual health more overtly within the curriculum. It is important that nurses do not try to be sexual counsellors. Nurses need to acknowledge their limitations and the harm that inappropriate interventions can produce. If sexual health is to be included in nursing curricula, it should not be trivialized. A planned progressive model is required which acknowledges that the human condition is diverse and individual.
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