Attitudes of Nurses Caring for HIV/AIDS Patients

Abstract

HIV/AIDS remains in epidemic proportions worldwide. The incidence of HIV/AIDS among infants, children, adolescents, and women has risen rapidly, and nurses cannot avoid HIV/AIDS patients. Because HIV/AIDS is associated with certain risk groups that have historically been subjects of discrimination, it has a stigma which contributes to the attitudes developed by nurses. To examine the attitudes of nurses in a southern community hospital, an AIDS Attitude Scale (AAS) survey was administered to all registered nurses (RNs) in staff positions. The AAS, a six-point Likert scale, examines avoidance and empathy attitudes. The survey was voluntary and anonymous. Sixty-eight percent (n = 175) of RNs responded to the survey. The overall mean score for avoidance was 2.37 and for empathy was 5.19. The general score of 2.82 indicated an overall empathetic attitude toward HIV/AIDS patients.