Comorbid HIV Infection and Opioid Use Disorder Simulation for Nurse Practitioner Students

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and opioid use disorder (OUD) often occur as comorbid conditions. Many nurse practitioners are treating these conditions in their practice.

Most advanced practice registered nursing (APRN) students do not encounter a medically complex patient with both HIV infection and OUD during their clinical experiences.

We present an unfolding simulated standardized patient scenario involving both HIV infection and OUD for APRN students. During each of 3 semesters, the students encounter the patient as he presents for a sexually transmitted infection, an OUD relapse, and, finally, new-onset HIV infection. The scenarios become increasingly complex as the students progress in their clinical experiences.

This innovative series of scenarios introduces APRN students to complex comorbid patient situations, with many issues to consider.