Death-Related Experience and Professional Support among Nursing Staff in Aids Care Facilities

Abstract

This study explores the death-related experience of AIDS care nurses and the availability of worksite support services to help them cope with caring for dying AIDS patients. The participants of the study were 197 nurses working in seven AIDS nursing facilities in New York City. Seventy-eight were registered nurses, forty-three were licensed practical nurses, and seventy-six were certified nursing assistants. The major finding was that respondents had substantial experience with dying AIDS patients, yet over a third of them did not have support services available where they worked to help them cope. The results suggest that nursing staff in AIDS care facilities should be provided with ongoing support services that are easily accessible.

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