Developing acquired immunodeficiency syndrome policies for schools of nursing: a practical guide

Estimates based on national surveys reveal that many National League for Nursing schools of nursing do not yet have acquired immunodeficiency syndrome policies in place. Schools without such policies cannot afford to delay in developing them. This article calls upon the deans and directors of the nation's schools of nursing to create task forces to deal with policy formulation and to equip them with the resources needed to accomplish their task. Administrators are encouraged to select task force members based on their unbiased attitudes toward antibody-positive individuals as well as their infection control, legal, and ethical expertise. Guidelines for the policy statement itself include suggestions for consistency with the parent institution's policies, regular policy review, consistency with recent antidiscriminatory judicial interpretations, statements on antibody screening of prospective or current students and faculty members, reasonable safety of students and faculty members in clinical settings, and assurance of complete confidentiality for antibody-positive students, faculty members, and staff members.