Introduction: Expressing sexuality is one of the basic human needs regardless of age. Despite the society’s deep-rooted beliefs about the asexual age, the older adults are undoubtedly sexually active people. Their needs for talking, counseling and assisting in expressing sexual needs are often compromised due to the taboos of the society or healthcare professionals' non-inclined attitudes. Purpose: The purpose of the diploma’s work is to capture the views of nursing care students about older adult’s sexuality which they met within their clinical training and present them in the bachelor’s thesis. Methods: We used a descriptive method of work. A survey questionnaire was designed for a cross-sectional study among nursing students. An ad hoc sample was gathered in May 2018. 170 questionnaires were obtained for consideration in the analysis of the diploma’s thesis. The results were analyzed and presented using tables and charts. The content was analyzed and interpreted with summaries or literal quotes of responders’ answers. Results: 82% of the surveyed nursing students are aware of the sexual activity of the older adults. Most (78%) of respondents do not talk with the elderly about sexuality for the needs of the healthcare documentation and the nursing plan preparation. The reasons are the belief that this is a taboo topic for the elderly (37%), not recognizing the importance of the topic (24%), describing their own feelings of discomfort (17%), and referencing sexuality as a general taboo theme (20%). 69% of students report about the behavior in the form of sexual seduction in the elderly. Half of the students report the observations of an elderly touching or kissing. 59% of the students report uncomfortable, 23% neutral and 18% pleasant feelings. The majority (81%) do not report direct experiences with the sexual behavior of the elderly. 9% report experience and 68% described it as uncomfortable. Discussion and conclusion: The students' attitudes revealed in this study might best be summarized as reluctant. They are hesitant to discuss sexuality with their elderly patients, often assuming the elderly would feel uncomfortable – or because they feel so themselves. The findings show a large measure of awareness and recognition of expressing sexual needs in the elderly, but often emphasize the lack of knowledge to solve problems and to counsel the elderly in this area of needs. The minority of nursing students still have no awareness of the existence and importance of sexual needs for the holistic treatment of the elderly. The reason is the students' own beliefs or insufficient attention to the content of sexuality by educational institutions. Lots of effort is needed to create an environment that supports all the needs of an individual, including understanding and respecting the sexual needs of the elderly. The views and knowledge of nursing professionals must be sufficient enough to be able to discuss sexuality, evaluate, and educate the elderly about ways to safely meet their sexual needs. Every nurse in contact with older people is responsible for changing prejudices and improving the society's view of sexuality in older adults.
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