Information nurses need about AIDS

The practicing nurse in today's health care system will be caring for many AIDS-affected patients. To make appropriate care decisions and disseminate facts about the disease process to co-workers, patients, and the public, the nurse needs to be knowledgeable about more than just the prevention and transmission precautions. Nurses also need in-depth knowledge about the pathophysiology of the disease, diagnostic methods used to confirm the presence of AIDS and its opportunistic diseases, and nutritional implications for patients. With an understanding of the AIDS disease process, the nurse is in a position to be a key component on the health care team caring for AIDS-affected patients.