| Policy
& Position Statement > HIV/AIDS : |
 
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HIV/AIDS
The
Trained Nurses’ Association of India endorses the policy statement
of the ICN on Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and
further specifies the position of Nurses on HIV/AIDS. Acquired
Immuno Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a global problem and is
evolving in epidemic proportions the world over. In the absence
of a vaccine or effective drug, the disease is fatal. Enough
Information is available on the nature of the Human Immuno Deficiency
Virus (HIV) and its mode of transmission. The disease is therefore
preventable through modification of behaviours that result in
HIV transmission by educating individuals about actions they
can take to protect themselves from becoming infected. The disease
poses a challenge to the Nurses as they are working directly
with infected individuals, families and the community. The Nurses
must accept the challenge of caring for the HIV infected persons
and AIDS patients.
The
TNAI believes that the essential principles in Nursing care
with regard to HIV/AIDS are: to prevent the spread of HIV infection;
to provide care to patients infected with HIV/AIDS and to provide
support for their families and friends; to participate in effective
educational and counselling services.
The
TNAI, through its infrastructure of Branches all over the country
can work towards and carry out the under mentioned activities:
Prevention
of Infection
The
Nurses can help in prevention of spread of infection by providing
appropriate care and through practice of universal precautions.
Information should be imparted to the public on HIV/AIDS transmission
and about safety measures for protection from HIV/AIDS infection.
The health education programmes should be targeted for general
public, groups practising high-risk behaviour and individuals.
The educational efforts should be aimed at modifying the high-risk
behaviour, reducing the risk of exposure and transmission and
diminishing the stress that the infection produces.
Providing
Care
Nurses
play a crucial role in providing physical care to HIV infected
and AIDS patients in whichever setting they may be placed i.e.,
in the hospital, clinics or community. The fear of contagion
and stigma associated with the disease produces social ostracism
and isolation of those infected. The Nurses play an important
role in psychological counselling of patients, families and
high risk groups. They must protect the basic human rights of
HIV infected persons and must maintain confidentiality of victims,
carriers and their families, and follow special guidelines in
caring for dying HIV/AIDS patients.
Nursing
Education
All
Nurses need a working knowledge of HIV/AIDS, its transmission,
the psychological, social and ethical implications, preventive
measures and safety precautions. They require a wide variety
of professional, educational and counselling skills to meet
the challenges posed by the disease and its impact. There is
need for revising the curricula for Nursing Education at all
levels to include teaching of necessary knowledge and skills
related to AIDS. The Nursing administrators should ensure in-service
education on AIDS and its prevention with special emphasis on
safety precautions for all Nurses.
Nursing
Research
To
ensure that Nursing Management principles adopted are effective
for prevention of AIDS and care of patients with AIDS, research
should be conducted especially in behavioural aspects to identify
the determinants of the given behaviour, and in evaluation to
assess the effectiveness of programmes implemented.
Safety
of Nurses
Nurses,
by virtue of their work, are more exposed to blood, body fluids
and tissues suspected of being infected and, therefore, to the
risk of acquiring HIV infection. The Nurses should be informed
as soon as the diagnosis of HIV is established. Standards for
handling infected patients and materials must be developed and
enforced in all health care settings. Adequate protective equipment
and facilities should be made available to ensure the practice
of universal precautions for protection of Nursing staff and
care of victims and carriers. In the event of adequate protective
equipment not being available, the Nurses may decline to look
after AIDS patients for reasons of their safety. Nurses who
are exposed to HIV infection during the course of their work
should follow the directions as laid down by the hospital infection
committee. They must be followed up for a period of six months
to ensure that they do not develop the infection.
© 2002, Trained Nurses' Association of India (TNAI), All
Rights Reserved.