HIV/AIDS Care - Prevention, Management, and Ethical Practices

HIV/AIDS continues to present significant challenges in both clinical and community health settings. This 3-hour CE course for Registered Nurses equips participants with the knowledge and skills to deliver comprehensive, compassionate, and evidence-based care for individuals living with or at risk for HIV/AIDS. Through an in-depth exploration of HIV pathophysiology, disease progression, and treatment strategies, nurses will enhance their clinical competencies across various care settings.

Participants will learn to recognize early and late-stage symptoms, interpret diagnostic results, and implement nursing interventions that promote adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) while managing side effects. The course also emphasizes HIV prevention techniques, including the use of PrEP and PEP, and infection control protocols. Special focus is given to addressing the psychosocial needs of patients and providing culturally sensitive and ethically sound education to reduce stigma and improve quality of life. This course fulfills the state-required HIV/AIDS CE requirements for nurses in the District of Columbia, Connecticut, and Florida.

Educational Objectives

• Understand the pathophysiology and progression of HIV/AIDS.
• Identify symptoms and stages of HIV, including implications for care at each stage.
• Explain diagnostic methods and interpret results for effective HIV/AIDS management.
• Apply nursing interventions to support ART adherence and manage side effects.
• Implement strategies for HIV prevention, including PrEP, PEP, and infection control practices.
• Address psychosocial needs and provide patient education, considering cultural and ethical sensitivity.

Who Should Take This Course

This course is intended for:

• Registered Nurses in the District of Columbia, Connecticut, and Florida who need to meet mandatory HIV/AIDS CE requirements.
• RNs working in infectious disease, community health, emergency care, or primary care settings.
• Nurses supporting high-risk populations, including LGBTQIA+ individuals, pregnant patients, or those with substance use disorders.
• Nurse educators and case managers involved in HIV prevention, outreach, or care planning.

Did You Know?

• Over 1.2 million people in the U.S. are living with HIV, and about 13% are unaware of their status. [CDC, 2024]
• Daily use of PrEP reduces the risk of getting HIV from sex by about 99%. [CDC]
• Nurses play a vital role in ART adherence and can improve treatment outcomes through patient-centered counseling.
• Florida requires HIV/AIDS CE for nursing license renewal every third biennium. [Florida Board of Nursing]
• Timely diagnosis and early ART can reduce HIV transmission risk to near zero. [NIH]