A situational analysis of an HIV/AIDS clinical area

The following paper is an account of a situational analysis in a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) ward. Initially it was intended to test a number of hypotheses extracted from the literature, and, using previous experience from participant observation, apply them to this particular clinical area. Becoming established ('getting in') in the new unit to be studied (situation) took 6 months and, although it was eventually possible to test the original hypotheses, the process of 'getting in' became the main point of analysis. Taking into account the situation of 'getting in', the conversations with the nursing staff and the background information, it is concluded that the HIV/AIDS predicament is and will continue to provide a major challenge for nurses and nurse educators.