The nurses’ experience of possible HIV infection after injury and / or exposure on duty
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Authors
Roets, Lizeth
Ziady, L.E.
Issue Date
2008
Type
Article
Language
en
Keywords
Nurse , experience , HIV , infection , injury , exposure
Alternative Title
Abstract
The purpose of the research was to describe the experience of nurses in the studied
hospital who had been exposed to possible HIV infection during injury or exposure
on duty.
A qualitative phenomenological descriptive study was used to describe the emotions
and non-verbal reactions of the twelve participants during two subsequent in-depth
interviews. These were conducted post-exposure, and after counselling and
prophylactic treatment took place. The nursing staffs from a selected private hospital
were included in the study after exposure of blood and/or human body fluid.
After completion of the study, it was found that the exposed staff’s experience had
two main categories. Firstly, they were grieving for the loss of the concept of being
healthy and invincible, blessed with nursing skills and definite goals in life. The
bereavement process included phases of denial, anger, anxiety and fear, with recurring
thoughts regarding the adverse events, as well as acceptance which developed with
time.
The bereavement process and shock of the exposure had wider consequences to the
family, as well as an impact on the working environment. Most participants reported
that they experienced genuine support and compassion from colleagues, at home
and in the community.
The second category of experience was the physical side effects which participant’s
developments developed due to the prophylactic antiretroviral therapy. Some
participants experienced severe difficulties due to the treatment, while other had
fewer problems.
Some proposals to adjust and possibly improve the hospital’s exposure surveillance
system were developed from the research results, including that a 24-hour crisis
management system be implemented for exposed staff members; that support groups
be started for staff, colleagues and family members; that all staff receive orientation
and support during unfamiliar procedures or placement in unknown departments;
that all exposures-on-duty be investigated and studied so that pro-active or preventive
measures may be devised; and that problems with staffing and working climate be
resolved.
All the findings and proposals were subsequently addressed to the relevant members
of the Hospital Management.
If healthcare services wish to retain nursing staff in future, more will need to be done
to prevent all types of exposure-on-duty and, if they do occur, to anticipate, manage
and shorten the subsequent period of the professional nurse or learner’s bereavement.
Description
Citation
Roets, Liseth & Ziady, L.E. (2008) Ziady, L.E. Curationis | Vol 31, No 4 | a1046 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/curationis.v31i4.1046
Publisher
AOSIS
License
Journal
Volume
Issue
PubMed ID
DOI
ISSN
2223-6279