Caring for the professional caregiver: the application of Caplan's model of consultation in the era of HIV.

Abstract

Nurses as well as other health-care professionals have been impacted by the current human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic. Issues related to virus transmission, voluntary testing, and professional requirements to provide care for those infected can trigger emotional as well as cognitive responses for all involved. The heavy emotional needs of patients and the regular confrontation of death increase the risk of burnout for those caring for the growing number of patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. In an effort to retain and to recruit nurses who are willing to become involved in the care of those infected with the virus, it is imperative that nursing administration provide psychosocial support services for those nurses. This article describes the development and implementation of a psychosocial support program, based on Caplan's (1973) model of mental health consultation, for nursing staff impacted by the HIV epidemic. The program, established through a cooperative alliance between psychiatric/mental health clinical nurse specialists and nursing staff, has proved to be effective and efficient. It is recommended that other psychiatric/mental health nurses, including faculty, use the consultation model to improve the psychosocial support available to health-care professionals affected by the HIV epidemic.