STAFF DISTRESS AMONG HEMOPHILIA NURSES

To investigate the severity, sources, and means used to cope with the distress experienced by haemophilia nurses as a result of the widespre ad infection with Human Immunodeficiency Virus among haemophiliacs, we collected anonymous questionnaire data from all nurses in the Haemoph ilia Nursing Network Directory, compiled by the National Haemophilia F oundation in June, 1990. Questionnaires were returned by 136 of the 18 1 (75%) nurses in the sample. Over 50% of the sample gave distress res ponses to 15 of 44 statements. Areas associated with the greatest dist ress were: (1) Failure of Patients to take steps to prevent transmissi on of HIV; (2) Fear of getting infected, and (3) the repeated loss exp erienced as patients died from infection. Nurses working with haemophi liacs for 11-15 years were particularly vulnerable to feelings of guil t for having participated in the treatment that resulted in HIV infect ion. Fear of contagion and distress from patient deaths were mutually exclusive ways of reacting to HIV in haemophiliacs. Looking for a new job was related to all major sources of distress. Interaction with pee rs was perceived as being the most useful source of emotional support.