Exploring critical care nurses' perceptions of their educational preparedness in managing people living with HIV/AIDS admitted to critical care units in KwaZulu-Natal.
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Date
2012
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Abstract
Introduction. The use of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) has shown to reduce the
morbidity and mortality and prolongs survival, improving quality of life restoring and
preserving immunologic function, maximizing antiretroviral activity and durably suppressing
viral load and further preventing vertical HIV transmission. However, their use in Critical
Care Units CCU is still controversial as there are still no set standards for how HAART
should be applied in these settings (Anderson, 2009). This study was aimed at exploring the
perceptions of critical care nurses towards their educational preparedness in managing
HIV/AIDS patients admitted to CCU in KwaZulu-Natal. Methodology. Quantitative descriptive research design was used and data collection included a structured
questionnaire and open ended questions. Results. The findings of this study indicate that of the critical care nurses who were sampled for this
study and had undergone training in HIV/AIDS management, 45% and 25% respectively
perceived that they were not educationally prepared to provide services for people living with
HIV/AIDS admitted to CCUs. Almost all N=50 (94%) critical care nurses reported that
HIV/AIDS management should be incorporated into the critical care nursing programme.
Their universal perception N=42 (75%) is that this will improve the standards of nursing care
in the critical care field. Over and above lack of training and updated information reported by
the respondents, they are still challenged by factors such as advanced level of HIV disease,
confidentiality about the disease, knowledge about a HIV/AIDS treatment regimen and
emotional challenges. However, there are guiding policies within critical care settings for nurses to utilise in the management of HIV/AIDS and in the care of people who have already
been infected. Conclusion and recommendations. In conclusion, more research with a larger scale sample is required to provide appropriate
generalisation of the findings of the study. Alternatively a qualitative research study which
may provide richer data on the lived experiences of the critical care nurses regarding care of
people living with HIV/AIDS is suggested.
Description
Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2012.
Keywords
Intensive care nursing--KwaZulu-Natal., Holistic nursing--KwaZulu-Natal., AIDS (Disease)--Patients--KwaZulu-Natal., Theses--Nursing.