Female nursing students' experience with and exposure to sexual assault

Background: The study aims to describe the prevalence of sexual violence experienced by nursing students and to understand nursing students' practices and attitudes toward working with patients with this trauma history.

Method: A convenience sample (n = 75) of female nursing students from the United States completed the Life Events Checklist and responded to statements about their practices and attitudes.

Results: Over a quarter (26.7%) experienced an unwanted or uncomfortable sexual experience. Of the 18.7% who were sexually assaulted, more than half also experienced physical assault and more than 70% reported other unwanted sexual experiences. Largely, students believed that screening patients for trauma is important (88.7%); yet, most (73.2%) felt unprepared and approximately 60% had not been taught how.

Conclusion: This knowledge can aid nursing educators in understanding their students' life experiences so issues can be addressed in safe learning environments and practices and attitudes related to screening and caring for patients can be highlighted. [J Nurs Educ. 2018;57(11):662–667.]