Addressing the need for staff support among nurses caring for the AIDS population.
More and more nurses are caring for individuals with AIDS-spectrum disorders. When nurses become involved in hospital-based AIDS treatment, major psychosocial issues can arise. In settings where nursing personnel have limited or no experience working with patients with AIDS, fear of contagion is a major issue. This fear has both rational and irrational components. In general, providing up-to-date information in a small group setting can effectively reduce irrational fears. Rational fears, which are not as easily dealt with, should be a stimulus for behavior change (e.g., adoption of precautionary guidelines for reducing the possibility of accidental infection). Different issues arise among nurses specializing in AIDS care and include burnout, a sense of professional isolation, and the need to establish personal boundaries in dealing with patients. Guidelines are offered for establishing a group approach to address these concerns and to handle the sensitive issues that may arise.
J V
JV
Pasacreta
P B
PB
Jacobsen
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000451:nursing*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003219:Confidentiality; D006801:Humans; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D012657:Self-Help Groups