Because the diagnosis of HIV infection or AIDS was a death sentence for many years until the highly active antiretroviral medications were discovered, the HIV virus and the infections it causes continue to be greatly feared. Significant efforts have been made by researchers and clinicians to increase our knowledge of HIV, its infections and effective prevention and treatment, since they were first identified in the 1980s. The massive public health effort to increase knowledge about HIV transmission and effective protective interventions certainly have helped to reduce the fear that initially gripped the US. The general public and healthcare workers have benefited from this collectively gained knowledge.

Part 1. Etiology and Epidemiology of HIV and AIDS

• Definition of HIV, AIDS
• How HIV works in the body
• Reported HIV cases, reported AIDS cases in US

Part 2. Transmission and Infection Control

• Transmission of HIV
• Behaviors that increase risk of HIV transmission
• Infection control precautions
• Factors affecting risk of transmission
• Risk for transmission to healthcare workers
• Other factors affecting transmission
  
  • Risk reduction
  • Bloodborne pathogens requirements
• Universal/Standard Precautions and Infection Control
• Reporting of on-the-job exposure
• Post-exposure prophylaxis
• Infection control in other settings

Part 3. Testing and Counseling

• Types of HIV testing
  
  • HIV test information
  • "Window period"
• Pre-test counseling
• Post-test counseling
• Recommendations for testing related to sexual assault
• Partner notification

Part 4. Clinical Manifestations and Treatment

• Oral signs of HIV infection
• Natural history of HIV infection
• AIDS case definition
• AIDS indicator conditions
• How HIV works in the body
• New drug therapies
• Case management/resources
  
  • Tuberculosis and HIV
  • Other sexually transmitted diseases and HIV
• Hepatitis B and HIV
• Hepatitis C and HIV
• Comparison Chart of HIV, HBV and HCV

Part 5. Ethical and Legal Issues

• Reporting requirements
• Confidentiality requirements
• Disability and discrimination
• Behaviors endangering the public

Part 6. Psychosocial Issues

• Personal impact
• The human response to death and dying
• Caregiver issues
• Select populations

1. Define HIV and AIDS.
2. Discuss how HIV impacts the body.
3. Describe behaviors that increase the risk of HIV infection.
4. State how HIV is transmitted.
5. Discuss Infection Control precautions, including Universal/Standard precautions.
6. Describe the procedure for on-the-job exposure to HIV, HBV or HCV.
7. Discuss pre and post test counseling requirements.
8. Define partner notification.
9. Review recommendations for testing related to sexual assault.
10. Describe the natural history of HIV infection.
11. Identify AIDS indicator conditions.
12. Discuss recent HIV medication therapies.
13. Outline management of HIV and common co-occurring illnesses.
14. Discuss discrimination related to HIV/AIDS.
15. Describe interventions related to the management of behaviors endangering the public.
16. Discuss the human impact of HIV/AIDS on the patient and the caregiver.
17. Describe typical stages of grief.
18. Discuss select populations and their relationship to HIV/AIDS.

The looped red ribbon became the universal symbol of AIDS awareness. Courtesy of the National Institutes of Health.

About the Author

Silvia Y. Beaupre, MS, RN, NPP, APRN, BC

Silvia Y. Beaupre, MS, RN, NPP, APRN, BC has many years of experience as an educator and clinician. Providing online continuing education to multiple healthcare professionals has been her mission for many years. Ms. Beaupre's teaching experience has been in staff development in multiple healthcare organizations, as well the education of nursing students at the associates, bachelors and graduate degree level. Ms. Beaupre provides workshops and didactic instruction in face to face educational programs to multiple professionals, as well as provides education consultation to select professional organizations.

Ms. Beaupre is a board certified psychiatric nurse practitioner in private practice in the Capital Region of New York State. Her baccalaureate degree in Nursing is from DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois and her Masters degree is in Psychiatric/Community Mental Health Nursing from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Her post-masters psychiatric nurse practitioner certificate was completed at the Sage Colleges in Troy, NY.

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