The value of certification in HIV/AIDS nursing revisited.

Abstract

Relf, Berger, Crespo-Fierro, Mallinson, and MillerHardwick (2004) published the initial work on certification in HIV/AIDS nursing. Their work provided a comprehensive summary of the scope of HIV/AIDS nursing practice, distinguished certification from licensure, detailed the need for nursing certification, described the benefits of certification, and discussed methods for championing certification among nurses in HIV care. Since that initial article 10 years ago, much has changed within the HIV pandemic, nursing profession, and context in which HIV nursing care occurs. Care for clients living with HIV has advanced as these changes evolved. Survival has increased relative to advances in medical care and treatment. Improved care and treatment options mean that clients with HIV disease are now aging. In fact, life expectancy of clients living with HIV infection is nearly equal to those who are not infected (May et al., 2006). Currently, 24% of clients living with HIV in the United States are ages 50 years or older (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2008). However, aging clients with HIV infection have a host of physical and psychosocial care needs that need to be addressed (Davis & Zanjani, 2012). Unfortunately, some aspects of HIVinfection have not changed over the past 10 years. In the United States alone, nearly 50,000 new cases of HIV infection occur annually. Groups most affected by HIV include Black men and women, and men who have sex with men (CDC, 2011). Unfortunately, the advances in HIV care and treatment are overshadowed by the fact that HIV prevention strategies have not been largely successful in decreasing new cases of HIV infection among these vulnerable populations (Johnson et al., 2008). The complex care needs of persons with HIV infection combined with the lack of HIV prevention interventions indicate that nurses with specialized knowledge, skills, and competencies are needed to provide care to people at risk for HIV, as well as those already infected. The Association of Nurses in AIDS Care in conjunction with the HIV/AIDS Nursing Certification Board (HANCB) recommends certification in HIV/AIDS Nursing for nurses who provide primary, secondary, or tertiary HIV care. As of August 2013, 655 nurses have earned AIDS Certified Registered Nurse (ACRN) certification, and 56 advanced practices nurses have earned Advanced AIDS Certified Registered Nurse (AACRN) certification. However, despite encouragement from both of these organizations, many nurses chose not to seek certification in HIV/AIDS nursing. The purpose of this manuscript is to revisit the value of nursing certification in HIV care. By revisiting this issue and using available evidence to demonstrate that certification