PSexuality in Maslow’s Hierarchy: A Cross-Sectional Study on Italian Nurses’ Competence

Background: Sexuality in patients has historically been a taboo topic within the nursing profession and is rarely discussed among practitioners. This study aimed to assess the competencies of Italian nurses regarding patients' sexuality. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving Italian nurses (n = 141) using the Comfort and Willingness Scale (CWS). Results: The data indicated that older nurses exhibited a statistically significant difference in their approach to patient satisfaction regarding sexual life (p < 0.001), sexual dysfunctions (p = 0.01), and sexual orientation (p = 0.01). Nurses with over 30 years of experience were more likely to engage in therapeutic discussions about patients' sexual concerns compared to their younger counterparts. Conversely, younger nurses appeared to be more comfortable discussing sexuality than their older colleagues. Conclusions: Nurses demonstrate inconsistent communication around sexuality and lack a standardized vocabulary, underscoring the need for enhanced training in this area of the Maslow's Paradigm. Leading training institutions require training techniques from the nurse education program to address sexuality. Another critical strategy is to promote cultural competence within the professional field by addressing taboos surrounding sexuality.