HIV Nursing Care Course

Lesson 1 • Immune System Disruption by HIV

Explains CD4+ T-cell targeting, immune depletion mechanisms, and systemic immune dysregulation. Links viral activity to clinical manifestations nurses will observe.

Lesson 2 • Transmission Routes and Risk Factors

Identifies confirmed transmission pathways and quantifies relative risk. Enables nurses to deliver accurate prevention counseling and correct patient misconceptions.

Lesson 3 • HIV Virology and Structure

Covers HIV viral structure, replication cycle, and genetic variability. Provides the biological foundation needed to understand antiretroviral targets and resistance.

Lesson 4 • Epidemiology and Global Burden

Presents global and domestic HIV prevalence, incidence trends, and disproportionately affected populations. Contextualizes nursing practice within public health priorities.

Lesson 1 • Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP)

Covers PEP indications, 72-hour initiation window, regimen selection, and completion support. Prepares nurses to respond rapidly to occupational and non-occupational exposures.

Lesson 2 • Primary Prevention Strategies

Covers condom use counseling, sexual health education, and behavioral risk reduction for HIV-negative individuals. Grounds nurses in the full spectrum of biomedical and behavioral prevention tools.

Lesson 3 • Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP)

Explains PrEP eligibility, drug options, dosing schedules, and required monitoring. Enables nurses to initiate PrEP conversations and support patients through the prescription process.

Lesson 4 • Harm Reduction Approaches

Introduces needle exchange programs, naloxone distribution, and safer use education for people who inject drugs. Positions harm reduction as a non-judgmental, evidence-based nursing practice.

Lesson 1 • Screening Recommendations and Protocols

Outlines universal screening guidelines, opt-out testing approaches, and high-risk population protocols. Equips nurses to implement evidence-based screening in diverse care settings.

Lesson 2 • HIV Diagnostic Test Types

Distinguishes antibody, antigen/antibody, NAT, and rapid tests by mechanism and use case. Grounds nurses in the technical basis for selecting appropriate diagnostic tools.

Lesson 3 • Pre- and Post-Test Counseling

Teaches structured counseling frameworks before and after HIV testing to support informed consent and emotional readiness. Directly reduces patient anxiety and improves linkage to care.

Lesson 4 • Interpreting Diagnostic Results

Covers result interpretation including window periods, false positives, and confirmatory testing algorithms. Prevents clinical errors from misread or prematurely drawn conclusions.

Lesson 1 • Goals and Principles of ART

Defines viral suppression targets, immunologic recovery goals, and treatment-as-prevention benefits. Establishes the clinical rationale nurses use to motivate patient adherence.

Lesson 2 • ART Drug Classes and Mechanisms

Surveys NRTIs, NNRTIs, PIs, INSTIs, and entry inhibitors by mechanism and replication stage targeted. Enables nurses to understand why specific combinations are prescribed.

Lesson 3 • Common ART Regimens and Combinations

Reviews preferred first-line regimens, single-tablet options, and combination rationale. Prepares nurses to recognize prescribed regimens and identify missing or substituted agents.

Lesson 4 • ART Side Effects and Toxicity Management

Identifies class-specific and drug-specific adverse effects, monitoring parameters, and nursing interventions. Reduces preventable harm through early recognition and timely reporting.

Lesson 1 • Laboratory and Diagnostic Monitoring

Covers CD4 count, viral load, resistance testing, and routine labs used to monitor HIV disease and ART response. Enables nurses to interpret trends and escalate abnormal findings.

Lesson 2 • Physical Examination Priorities

Identifies HIV-specific physical findings by system, including oral, dermatologic, neurologic, and lymphatic signs. Trains nurses to detect early complications before laboratory confirmation.

Lesson 3 • Functional Status and Quality of Life

Assesses activities of daily living, fatigue, pain, and patient-reported outcomes relevant to HIV. Connects functional data to care goals and rehabilitation planning.

Lesson 4 • Psychosocial and Mental Health Assessment

Screens for depression, anxiety, trauma, stigma, and social determinants affecting HIV outcomes. Integrates psychosocial data into holistic nursing care planning.

Lesson 1 • Principles of Opportunistic Infection Risk

Links CD4 thresholds to specific infection risks and explains immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome. Provides the framework for anticipating complications based on immune status.

Lesson 2 • Neurological Complications of HIV

Identifies HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders, cryptococcal meningitis, toxoplasmosis, and PML. Prepares nurses to perform neurological monitoring and respond to acute changes.

Lesson 3 • Respiratory Opportunistic Infections

Covers PCP, tuberculosis, and other pulmonary infections common in advanced HIV disease. Trains nurses to recognize respiratory deterioration and initiate appropriate interventions.

Lesson 4 • Gastrointestinal and Hepatic Complications

Addresses candidiasis, CMV colitis, cryptosporidiosis, and hepatitis co-infections affecting GI and liver function. Enables nurses to manage nutrition, hydration, and symptom burden.

Lesson 1 • Understanding Adherence and Its Importance

Defines adherence thresholds for viral suppression and explains consequences of suboptimal adherence. Motivates nurses to prioritize adherence as a core clinical outcome.

Lesson 2 • Identifying and Addressing Adherence Barriers

Assesses patient-specific barriers including side effects, stigma, mental health, and structural factors. Enables nurses to tailor interventions rather than apply generic adherence advice.

Lesson 3 • Patient Education Techniques for ART

Applies teach-back, motivational interviewing, and plain-language strategies to ART education. Ensures patients understand their regimen, timing, and what to do if doses are missed.

Lesson 4 • Behavioral and Psychosocial Adherence Interventions

Introduces motivational interviewing, peer support, and case management as adherence-enhancing strategies. Connects behavioral science to practical nursing interactions with patients.

Lesson 1 • Aging Adults Living with HIV

Examines accelerated aging, polypharmacy, comorbidity burden, and cognitive decline in older HIV patients. Enables nurses to provide geriatric-informed HIV care as the population ages.

Lesson 2 • Pediatric HIV Nursing Care

Addresses HIV diagnosis in infants, pediatric ART formulations, growth monitoring, and developmental support. Equips nurses to deliver family-centered care for HIV-positive children.

Lesson 3 • Palliative and End-of-Life HIV Care

Applies palliative care principles to advanced HIV disease, including symptom management, goals-of-care conversations, and bereavement support. Ensures dignified, patient-centered end-of-life nursing.

Lesson 4 • HIV in Transgender and Gender-Diverse Patients

Addresses hormone therapy interactions with ART, affirming care practices, and elevated HIV risk in transgender populations. Prepares nurses to deliver respectful, clinically accurate care.

Lesson 5 • HIV and Substance Use Disorders

Integrates HIV care with substance use disorder treatment, addressing ART adherence, overdose risk, and co-occurring infections. Equips nurses to apply integrated, non-stigmatizing care models.