Care of HIV-infected patients: nurses' concerns, opinions, and precautions

The purpose of this study was to describe nurses' concerns, opinions, and precautions related to nursing patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Of special interest was a comparison of responses by nurses who reported exposure to the HIV through broken skin or mucous membranes with the responses of nurses who reported no such exposure. The sample included all staff nurses employed in either the ambulatory/home health care unit or in one of seven inpatient critical care units of a large urban medical center. Of the 323 respondents, 64 (20%) reported HIV exposure, 77 (24%) reported no exposure, and 180 (56%) reported not knowing if they had been exposed. A 15-item Likert-type scale was used. More HIV-exposed nurses than non-exposed nurses reported: (a) worrying about becoming HIV-infected; (b) considering a change of specialty or profession because of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) risk; and (c) favoring selected HIV-related policies. Of the total sample, nearly all subjects agreed that staff nurses should be involved in developing HIV-related policies affecting nurses; and over one-half said that, if the agency gave them the option, they would refuse assignment to HIV-infected patients. Nearly 30% said that they had considered changing their profession because of the AIDS risk. Some implications are that nursing administrators should involve well-informed staff nurses in formulating HIV-related policies that affect nurses. The HIV-exposed nurses may need support in dealing with their concerns resulting from HIV-exposure, and they may need more information about HIV-infection control and seroconversion rates of HIV-exposed nurses.