HIV EDUCATION AND RISK-ASSESSMENT PRACTICES OF PUBLIC-HEALTH NURSES

This study considered factors associated with public health nurses' co nduct of HIV education and risk assessment with health department clie nts. Data were collected from 311 nurses in a southeastern rural state . Analysis showed nurses were more likely to educate and assess client s for HIV if they did prevention counseling through the state's HIV-te sting program, had higher levels of knowledge about HIV, and perceived they had sufficient knowledge to educate clients about HIV. Public he alth nurses need learning and practice experiences that increase knowl edge about HIV disease and provide skills that facilitate comfortable communication with persons at high risk for HIV.