A.I.D.S. Care Rejected By Some Nurses (Press, 8 September 1987)

A survey conducted on nurses' attitudes towards patients diagnosed with A.I.D.S. revealed that 13 per cent of the nurses would be willing to refuse treatment to such patients. This finding, reported by Mr David Wills, director of the New Zealand Nurses’ Society, has raised concerns, although he expressed confidence that nurses would not actually deny care to A.I.D.S. patients. He suggested that the responses may have stemmed from misunderstandings regarding the survey questions. Mr Wills pointed out that all nurses who participated in the postal survey had never previously refused to treat any patient. The survey reached out to 300 nurses, and 31 per cent of these questionnaires were returned. Mr Wills stated that despite the low return rate, the results provided a clear indication of the feelings held by nurses regarding A.I.D.S. More than 80 per cent of the respondents felt reasonably well informed about the disease, while 82 per cent expressed concerns about the risk of occupational transmission of the virus. In light of this concern, 87 per cent of the nurses reported taking greater precautions when dealing with blood, which is a common transmission route for A.I.D.S. Specific questions related to patient attitudes revealed that 29 per cent of nurses felt anxious about providing care for homosexual male patients, while 39 per cent were uneasy about caring for intravenous drug users. Additionally, 22 per cent indicated they would consider transferring to another area if their unit began treating a significant number of A.I.D.S. patients, with another 14 per cent unsure about their stance on such a transfer. Conversely, a substantial majority—71 per cent—stated that they would never refuse to care for a patient based on their medical condition, although 16 per cent expressed uncertainty, and 13 per cent were inclined to refuse. Overall, the survey highlights a mixture of anxiety and reassurance among nurses regarding A.I.D.S., with a clear majority indicating a commitment to patient care despite the risks associated with the disease.

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