ACQUIRED-IMMUNE-DEFICIENCY-SYNDROME - KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCES, AND ATTITUDES OF HOSPITAL-BASED REGISTERED NURSES

Background and Objectives: Because of the rapidly increasing number of people affected by acquired immune deficiency syndrome, an increasing number of health care providers are involved. The knowledge, experien ces, and attitudes of hospital-based registered nurses can affect the quality and quantity of care provided people with acquired immune defi ciency syndrome. Goals: To determine the knowledge, experiences, and a ttitudes about acquired immune deficiency syndrome of registered nurse s employed in hospitals in Oklahoma and delineate changes in that know ledge and attitudes over time, This should provide a measure of the pr eparedness of hospital-based registered nurses in Oklahoma to facilita te initial and continued care of people with acquired immune deficienc y syndrome. Study Design: This study surveyed hospital-based registere d nurses in Oklahoma in 1986 and again in 1994. In 1986, 75 (51%) of t he hospitals and 446 (68% response rate) of the registered nurses part icipated in the study. In 1994, 85 (53%) of the hospitals and 564 (74% response rate) of the registered nurses participated in the study. Th e study sample demographics closely matched the state and national pop ulations of hospital-based registered nurses. Results: The average sco res on general and clinical knowledge tests increased significantly fr om 1986 to 1994. In general, infection control registered nurses had s tatistically significantly greater knowledge than did registered nurse s assigned to other areas of work. However, deficiencies were evident in specific areas of knowledge. The attitudes of registered nurses tow ard people with acquired immune deficiency syndrome have become more p ositive since 1986. Some confusion and unjustifiable fear may exist am ong some registered nurses regarding certain aspects of acquired immun e deficiency syndrome. Conclusions: The hospital-based registered nurs es in Oklahoma have increased their preparedness to facilitate initial and continued care of people with acquired immune deficiency syndrome . Because of the representative sample of this study, that conclusion probably is applicable to the nation.