Stressors of hospice home care nurses caring for AIDS patients: a pilot study

This exploratory study identified stressors of home care hospice nurses caring for hospice patients with AIDS. Five hospice home care nurses provided data obtained from demographic questionnaires and semistructured interviews. Results of this pilot study confirmed that experienced hospice nurses believe there is a difference between caring for AIDS hospice patients and non-AIDS hospice patients, and that nurses face increased stress when caring for AIDS hospice patients. Further research is needed to provide better care for the hospice patient with AIDS, and to acknowledge and respond to the increased demand on the nurses who care for them.