Sexuality, sexual abuse. Omissions in admissions?

The main focus of this paper is to highlight the evidence relating long-term effects of childhood sexual abuse to presenting complaints on acute admission wards and to explore how sexuality, as an aspect of nursing concern, is broached by mental health nurses. There are few nursing articles on sexual abuse issues which are research-based, this literature has to be drawn from a wider field. Several authors recognize this paucity highlighting the need for future research in this area. The evidence from the literature review (1985-1995) makes it clear that the environment, the perceived interpersonal skills of the nurse and a general lack of definition of the nurse's role has a large influence on whether or not these issues are addressed. Following discussion about these findings, recommendations are made for inclusion of teaching on sexuality and sexual abuse, interpersonal skills training and illumination of assessment practice, with space for personal growth and development, in pre- and post-registration nurse education. This theme is developed further by considering how these recommendations could be introduced on acute admission wards.