Intervention to promote safer sexual behaviors and educate peers about HIV/AIDS

Sexually active college students are at risk for infection with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Nursing students can learn a variety of desirable professional skills and provide an important service to their college peers by participating in an ongoing intervention to promote safer sexual behaviors. Since 1989, nursing students at a publicly supported urban college have been providing a HIV Primary Prevention intervention on a sustained basis. During each semester, at least 1,000 college students complete a quiz that tests their knowledge about condoms and engage in discourse with a nursing student about HIV/AIDS. Content analysis of the evaluations submitted by the nursing students (N = 43) identifies how this independent study enhances both professional and personal growth.