title: Students' perceptions of their preparation for AIDS patient care: a national survey.
abstract: A survey of undergraduate students (n = 1,390) was conducted to determine their self-perceptions of their educational preparation to care of persons with HIV disease. HIV/AIDS content was included in the curricula of 97% of the respondents, with hours of instruction ranging from 0 to 18 with a mean of five. School policies regarding HIV clinical experiences varied from requiring all students to care for at least one AIDS patient to considering student preferences. Students (n = 944) perceived that faculty were willing to assign and supervise students in the care of HIV/AIDS patients. The majority of students (73%) believed that their preparation to care for AIDS patients was excellent or good. A genuine feeling of compassion was apparent in the responses of most students, and it was evident that faculty had taught students to care for HIV/AIDS patients without prejudice, and with respect for human life.
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, Rutgers, State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, USA.
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Hurley
authors.forename: E P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: McGriff
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000451:nursing*; D000328:Adult; D003479:Curriculum; D004506:Education, Nursing; D004645:Empathy; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000451:nursing; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010465:Perception; D011247:Pregnancy; D011287:Prejudice; D013338:Students, Nursing; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires