Learn about the nursing care management of patients with HIV/AIDS in this nursing study guide. Show
What are HIV and AIDS?Since HIV was first identified almost 30 years ago, remarkable progress has been made in improving the quality and duration of life for people living with HIV disease.
ClassificationThe stages of HIV disease is based on clinical history, physical examination, laboratory evidence of immune dysfunction, signs and symptoms, and infections and malignancies.
PathophysiologyBecause HIV infection is an infectious disease, it is important to understand how HIV-1 integrates itself into a person’s immune system and how immunity plays a role in the course of HIV disease.
Pathophysiology of HIV and AIDS by Osmosis Check out this awesome pathophysiology and easy-to-understand video by Osmosis. Let us support them via Patreon to make more informative videos like this. Statistics and EpidemiologyIn the fall of 1982, after the first 100 cases were reported, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a case definition for AIDS.
CausesHIV is transmitted through body fluids that contain free virions and infected CD4+ T cells.
Clinical ManifestationsHIV has four categories with specific manifestations for each stage.
PreventionUntil an effective vaccine is developed, nurses need to prevent HIV infection by teaching patients how to eliminate or reduce risky behaviors.
ComplicationsThe patient should be monitored for presence of complications and should be managed appropriately.
Assessment and Diagnostic FindingsSeveral screening tests are used to diagnose HIV infection.
Medical ManagementMedical management focuses on the elimination of opportunistic infections.
Nursing ManagementThe nursing care of patients with HIV/AIDS is challenging because of the potential for any organ system to be the target of infections or cancer. Nursing AssessmentNursing assessment includes identification of potential risk factors, including a history of risky sexual practices or IV/injection drug use.
DiagnosisThe list of potential nursing diagnoses is extensive because of the complex nature of the disease.
Planning & GoalsMain Article: 13 AIDS (HIV Positive) Nursing Care Plans Goals for a patient with HIV/AIDS may include:
Nursing InterventionsThe plan of care for a patient with AIDS is individualized to meet the needs of the patient.
EvaluationExpected patient outcomes may include:
Discharge and Home Care GuidelinesBefore discharge, the nurse should educate the patient and the family about precautions and the transmission of HIV/AIDS.
Documentation GuidelinesThe focus of documentation in a patient with HIV/AIDS should include:
Practice Quiz: HIV/AIDSHere’s a 5-item quiz about the study guide. Please visit our nursing test bank for more NCLEX practice questions. 1. A widely used laboratory test that measures HIV-RNA levels and tracks the body’s response to HIV infection is the: A. CD4/CD8 ratio. 2. The most debilitating gastrointestinal condition found in up to 90% of all AIDS patients is: A. Anorexia. 3. Abnormal laboratory findings seen with AIDS include: A. Decreased CD4 and T cell count. 4. The most common infection in persons with AIDS (80% occurrence) is: A. Cytomegalovirus. 5. A diagnosis of wasting syndrome can be initially made when involuntary weight loss exceeds what percentage of baseline body weight? A. 10% Answers and Rationale 1. Answer: C. Viral load test.
2. Answer: B. Chronic diarrhea.
3. Answer: D. All of the above.
4. Answer: D. Pneumocystis pneumonia.
5. Answer: A. 10%
See AlsoPosts related to HIV/AIDS:
[sc name=”Affiliate_MedicalSurgical”] How is the HIV infection detected in the infant?HIV can be diagnosed definitively by virologic testing in most non-breastfed infants with perinatal HIV exposure by age 1 to 2 months and in almost all infants with HIV by age 4 to 6 months.
Which test confirms the diagnosis of HIV infection?Tests for HIV and AIDS
ELISA Test ELISA, which stands for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, is used to detect HIV infection. If an ELISA test is positive, the Western blot test is usually administered to confirm the diagnosis.
Which method is used to test for HIV infection in infants who are born to HIV positive mothers?Diagnosis of HIV infection during infancy depends on the detection of the virus. Since all infants born to HIV-infected mothers have a positive antibody test at birth because of the passive transfer of the HIV antibody across the placenta, virological testing is used to confirm the diagnosis.
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