Nursing dependency needs of HIV-infected patients, Part 2: Implications for management

Nurses on undifferentiated patient care units observed significant differences in the nursing needs of persons with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease compared with other hospitalized patients. These needs were reflected in the provision of greater nursing hours per case and greater lengths of hospital stay. Less time was spent in the intensive care unit by HIV-infected patients, although 25 percent died in the hospital. There were few HIV patients overall, but given the percentage dying, additional support services may be required in the community to enable terminally ill persons to die at home or in a similar low-technology environment.