ANA Nurse CE

Responsible Sexual Activity in Adolescents

Orignial Author: Kate Swift-Scanlan, MSN, CNM; Revised Author: Andrea Brassard, DNSc, MPH, FNP and Shaina Brassard, BA

Overview:

The American Nurses Foundation of the American Nurses Association works with a federally funded program entitled, Partners in Program Planning for Adolescent Health (PIPPAH). PIPPAH is working to improve the health status of adolescents. One of the major adolescent health indicators of the Healthy People (HP) 2010 national initiative is "responsible sexual behavior." Greater emphasis on successful interventions is necessary to meet critical objectives related to teen reproductive health. Health professionals, the majority of whom are nurses, have the potential for positively influencing teens, parent figures and communities, through interactive dialogue and involvement in health policy initiatives. 

Purpose/Goal: To optimize nursing-youth interaction by exploring the role of nursing in achieving adolescent health objectives related to sexual behavior. Accurate adolescent health information is essential, as is knowledge of state law regarding minority consent. Recent findings from adolescent health program evaluations suggest that a comprehensive approach to sexuality education may result in outcomes related to national health objectives.

Objectives:

1. Describe the importance of nursing contributions in meeting national health objectives related to increasing sexual responsibility in adolescents.
2. Identify specific nursing interventions by which national health objectives may be accomplished.
3. Describe sexuality education program components associated with positive health outcomes related to sexual behavior in adolescents.

Author:

Andrea Brassard, DNSc, MPH, FNP, is the former Project Manager of Tobacco Free Nurses at the American Nurses Association and American Nurses Foundation. ANA and ANF are partners in the Tobacco Free Nurses Initiative. The project manager coordinates implementation of project deliverables, facilitates information-sharing between partners, and develops and disseminates program information. Dr. Brassard is currently on faculty and teaches nurse practitioner students at the George Washington University School of Nursing. She has been actively involved in continuing nursing education at the Constituent Member Association and District Nurses Association level and in staff development. As a Family Nurse Practitioner, she counsels clients of all ages regarding smoking cessation. She holds a certificate as a Family Nurse Practitioner and a DNSc in Health Policy. Shaina Brassard holds a Bachelor of Arts in Latin American and Latino/a Studies from Vassar College. Her research interests include adolescents, sexual health, gender and culture in Latin America and the United States. As the Eliza Buffington Fellow, in 2008 she undertook the qualitative research project, “Sexual Health, Gender and Adolescents in La Paz, Bolivia.”

The planners and author of this CNE activity have disclosed no financial relationships with any commercial companies pertaining to this activity.

Contact Hours: 1

Expiration Date: 12/31/2013