Perception of learning needs and preferred learning methods about AIDS/HIV among registered nurses working in the...

It is important for nurses and other healthcare workers to recognize that patients who present themselves for health care could already be infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Therefore, appropriate and sensible infection control precautions should be taken at all times. An assessment of nurses' knowledge of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)/HIV provides information to guide further continuing education efforts. This study describes the learning needs and preferred learning methods regarding AIDS/HIV among registered nurses working in a community in Texas. Respondents confirmed the need for important content areas regarding primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention such as universal precautions, protection from infectious diseases, and occupational hazards for healthcare providers. Several teaching methodologies were included. Self-paced instruction was the least preferred teaching-learning method; hands-on methodology was most preferred for the topics of clinical manifestations, long-term care, testing, and counseling.