Background

Sexual health is affected by disease, dysfunction and disability but can also be experienced in spite of illness. To get a deeper knowledge of what the nurse does for the patients the background is written with the support of the holistic care and Katie Eriksson theoretical perspectives health and suffering.

Aim

The aim of this study is to describe the factors to why nurses do not prioritize patients' sexual health in the nursing care.

Method

A literature review based on nine qualitative and quantitative studies focusing on the barriers perceived by the nurses to address sexual health.

Result

The result of this study showed that the barriers were many. Factors related to nurses unwillingness to talk to patients about sexuality and sexual health were difficulties in nurses' psychosocial work environment and lacking competence concerning sexual health. The fact that sexuality is a sensitive subject, factors related to the patient and that it was someone else's responsibility to raise the topic were other factors that made it difficult.

Conclusion

We conclude that a stressed workplace where there is a lack of time and stress along with a poor education and uncertainty leads to no grasp of the subject and the problem slides between health professionals. Patients' sexual health remains untreated. If sexual health is not involved in the nursing care increases the risk for larger problems and that the patients are exposed to unnecessary suffering.