HIV-RELATED CONCERNS AND EDUCATIONAL-NEEDS OF PUBLIC-HEALTH NURSES INA RURAL STATE

An anonymous questionnaire was completed by 369 nurses in public healt h departments in a rural Southeastern state to examine the relationshi p between nurses' prior HIV training and their HIV-related knowledge, attitudes, concerns, and perceived training needs. The survey was cond ucted in three predominantly urban counties with the highest number of AIDS cases and in 38 rural counties with two or fewer reported AIDS c ases. Knowledge answers were generally 70%-90% correct and attitudes m ore favorable than unfavorable. Attitude was more frequently associate d with HIV training level than was knowledge. Concerns about working w ith persons with high-risk behaviors were expressed by more than half the nurses and were more prevalent in rural areas. Nurses with more tr aining had more concerns about client care and fewer fears about HIV w ork. Almost all (85%) were concerned about lack of community resources . Most nurses wanted more training of the client-sensitive type provid ed by the state. With the increasing incidence of HIV\AIDS in rural ar eas, planning continuing education for staff not only on new developme nts and current therapies (desired by 98%) but on managing feelings ab out clients with high-risk behaviors seems especially important not on ly for the staff, but for their significant others and communities.