Nurses' experience of caring for people living with HIV: a focused ethnography

Healthcare providers have been found to have limited knowledge and skills in interacting with people living with HIV. These factors can adversely affect providers' practice, jeopardize their safety and compromise the care of the patients.

This study aimed to explore the experiences of Iranian nurses who were caring for patients with HIV.

A focused ethnography approach was used. Participants consisted of 12 nurses working in teaching hospitals affiliated to Urmia University of Medical Sciences and recruited by purposeful sampling. Semi-structured interviews, field observations and field notes were used for data collection. Data were analysed employing content analysis.

Three main themes emerged from the analysis of the participants' experiences of providing care to patients with HIV: 'excessive fear of being infected', 'concerns about the possible consequences' and 'lack of self-confidence in care provision'.

Nurses have experienced a great deal of fear of self and cross-contamination when providing care to people living with HIV. Social stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV amplified the nurses' experience of fear. Providing appropriate education and training for nurses can improve their attitudes, emotions and self-confidence while providing care to such people and increasing the quality of care provided.

Planning more educational programmes focusing on improving their misunderstandings about HIV could result in positive outcomes: for nurses to provide high-quality care and for people living with HIV who receive this care. The healthcare system should consider the culture of care provided by nurses to these people.