Unwanted sexual experiences reported by nursing students: implications fornurse education and training

This study examined the nature and frequency of unwanted sexual experiences in childhood and adulthood reported by nursing students, using a questionn aire developed from the Sexual Events Questionnaire (Calam & Slade). The qu estionnaire was distributed to 109 second-year nursing students (90 female and 19 male) for anonymous completion. At the same time a further short que stionnaire asked students about their perceptions of the first questionnair e, and how far their course had, up to the present, included consideration of issues related to sexuality. A high level of unwanted sexual experiences was reported. For example: 49 (45.0%) reported having witnessed indecent e xposure; 27 (24.8%) reported someone having 'tried unsuccessfully to have s exual intercourse with you against you will'; 14 (12.8%) reported someone h aving 'succeeded in having sexual intercourse with you against your will'. In the second questionnaire, 74.1% thought that consideration of human sexu ality had so far been included in their course either 'not at all' or 'a li ttle', with 19.4% responding 'quite a lot' or 'very much'. It is argued tha t there is a particular need, for personal and professional reasons, for nu rsing students to have opportunities to address any unresolved effects of u nwanted sexual experiences, and that within the formal curriculum there sho uld be greater consideration bf issues related to human sexuality.