Provide a nonthreatening atmosphere and encourage patient to ask questions about personal sexuality. A nonthreatening atmosphere encourages patient to ask questions specifically related to the current situation.- Establish a therapeutic relationship with patient to provide a safe, comfortable atmosphere for discussing sexual concerns.
- Encourage patient to discuss feelings and perceptions about sexual dysfunction to help patient validate perceptions and reduce emotional distress through catharsis.
- Encourage patient and partner to discuss feelings and perceptions to help the couple clarify issues about their relationship and improve communication.
Educate patient and partner about alternative methods of lovemaking and expressing affection. Alternative expressions of love and intimacy can raise patient's self-esteem until impotence is evaluated and treated.- Encourage use of sexual fantasies and erotica to promote sexual stimulation and erection. This helps patient and partner achieve sexual satisfaction and decreases “spectatoring” (watching oneself during sexual activity with partner), which can inhibit performance.
- Allow patient to express feelings openly in a nonjudgmental atmosphere to enhance communication and understanding between patient and caregiver.
- Provide answers to specific questions to help patient focus on specific issues, clarify misconceptions, and build trust in the caregiver.
- Help patient recognize potentially harmful sexual behavior. Set limits on high-risk sexual behavior. Indiscriminate, impulsive sexual behavior can lead to unwanted pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and physical and emotional trauma.
- Encourage patient to express sexual urges in socially acceptable ways (including masturbation in a private setting) to help patient discover positive methods of relieving sexual tension.
- Discuss with patient hypersexual behaviors and feelings associated with hypersexuality to promote insight into behavior.
- Provide time for privacy to demonstrate respect for patient, allow time for introspection, and give patient control over time spent interacting with others.
- Suggest that patient discuss concerns with partner. Open discussion fosters sharing of concerns and strengthens relationships.
- Provide support for the partner. Supportive interventions such as active listening communicate concern, interest, and acceptance.
- Educate patient and partner about limitations imposed by patient's current physical condition. Education about limitations imposed on sexual activity by illness helps patient avoid complications or injury.
Suggest referral to a sex counselor or other appropriate professional for future guidance to provide patient with a resource for postdischarge support.
Suggested NIC Interventions
Anxiety Reduction; Emotional Support; Mutual Goal Setting; Role Enhancement; Self-Awareness Enhancement; Self-Esteem Enhancement; Sexual Counseling; Teaching: Individual; Values Clarification |