title: Nurses' experiences of delivering voluntary counseling and testing services for people with HIV/AIDS in the Vhembe District, Limpopo Province, South Africa.
abstract: Voluntary counseling services are seen as a cost-effective strategy for HIV prevention and management because they help people to cope with their illness and reduce infection rates in others. This study explored and described the experiences of 20 nurses who rendered voluntary counseling in the Vhembe district, Limpopo Province, South Africa. A qualitative and contextual research design was used, with data gathered from in-depth individual interviews and analyzed using an open-coding method. The main experiences of the nurses rendering voluntary counseling and testing arose in the following themes: challenges related to inadequate resources; the emotional drain associated with stress and burnout; and frustration related to certain behaviors and practices of clients and community members. The main conclusions drawn from the findings were that nurses are continuously exposed to emotionally draining activities with very little support from their supervisors, which makes them prone to experiencing burnout.
authors.affiliation: HIV/AIDS Unit, Center for Quality of Life, Student Affairs, University of Venda, Thohoyandou, South Africa.
authors.forename: Azwihangwisi H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Mavhandu-Mudzusi
authors.forename: Vhonani O
authors.initials: VO
authors.lastname: Netshandama
authors.forename: Mashudu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Davhana-Maselesele
mesh_terms: D015492:AIDS Serodiagnosis / Q000451:nursing*; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology; D002055:Burnout, Professional / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D003376:Counseling / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005639:Frustration; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D024802:Nurse's Role / Q000523:psychology; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology*; D010563:Personnel Turnover; D011204:Poverty Areas; D036301:Qualitative Research; D019035:Rural Health Services; D012944:Social Support; D013019:South Africa; D013240:Stereotyping; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D035141:Voluntary Programs / Q000458:organization & administration