Educating school nurses to care for HIV-infected children in school

Effects of an educational program on school nurses' knowledge and attitudes about human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in children and changes in practice was investigated. Participants (N = 205) attended a one-day workshop held at 11 sites in New Jersey. Content was clinically focused and derived from a needs assessment of a sample of school nurses throughout New Jersey. An adult education format was used, with interactive and affective teaching strategies modeled on the AIDS Training Program of the California Nurses' Association. Subjects were pretested and posttested for knowledge and attitudes about HIV in children. An identical posttest mailed three months later included a self-report of change in practice since attending the workshop. Knowledge and attitude scores were significantly higher at program completion (p < .0001). Three months after the program, knowledge scores had fallen but not to pretest levels. No significant difference existed between attitude scores after the program and three months later. On self-report of change in practice, respondents indicated they institute or improved universal precautions, and were more comfortable in teaching children, staff, and their communities about HIV.