ABSTRACT
Introduction This chapter is focused on caring for patients admitted to hospital for investigation or treatment of HIV disease and associated opportunistic events as described in previous chapters. The nursing care of people with HIV disease is no different than the nursing care of any other person who has a chronic illness with periods of acute exacerbations. It just sometimes seems different because of the complexity of a variety of external factors associated with this particular infection. These factors include stigma, fear of contagion, judgemental and ill-informed attitudes towards differing sexual orientations and practices, injecting drug use and various social, cultural, ethical and moral issues. They can create an illusion that caring for patients with HIV disease is different and that it requires ‘special skills’ not possessed by all nurses. Because this mirage can erode personal and professional confidence, a major goal of this chapter is to reassure nurses that, by virtue of their education, clinical experience and professional ethics, they can safely and competently care for all patients, including those with HIV disease. They already have those ‘special skills’ that are needed, and their involvement in the care and management of patients with HIV disease affords them a further opportunity to continue to positively develop the skills and attitudes that define the best in professional nursing.
