Symbolic interaction involving nurses employed at an HIV/AIDS clinic

Date of Completion

2011

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Keywords

Human Immunodeficiency Viruses, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Nurse-Patient Relations

Abstract

This study used the symbolic interactionism approach. Purposive sampling was used to determine the participants of this study. The participants are nurses currently employed at a particular HIV/AIDS clinic, regardless of years of experience, age, sex and marital status. Data gathering was done through direct observation, interview, note-taking and records review and followed by data analysis of the gathered information. In the analysis of the data gathered which was presented in a story format, every action that involves the nurse was found to have significant rationales behind it. Inside the clinic, the nurses had their unique way of communicating as they used “gay lingo” to converse with one another, especially between the counselors, nurses and patients who are homosexuals, in order to create an accepting environment. Symbolic interaction was used for data analysis. HIV/AIDS is a sensitive case, thus, maintaining confidentiality is vital to keep the infected persons from getting social stigma and discrimination from the society and failure to follow it will lead to legal liability. From the door of the clinic to the code names of the patients, there are different ways to safeguard the identities of HIV/AIDS afflicted individuals. The emotions and feelings expressed by the nurses were mainly empathy and sympathy for the patients they handle. As nurses, along with the experiences they have in dealing with HIV positive patients, they were also able to understand what it feels like to be infected with HIV. They know every aspect of health a patient suffers from- emotional, physical, mental, etc. and that led them to show concern whenever a patient fails to comply with the prescribed treatment regimen. The compassion and the attitude of the nurses are factors that aided in the establishment of a good relationship with the patients as well as with their co-workers.

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