Uniting these differing models of health care is the underlying commitment to reduce the burden of HIV-related disease on those affected and continue to scale up the response. Despite a vastly different landscape in HIV nursing in Australia today compared to when the sector developed forty years ago, the same guiding philosophy and commitment to …
Clinical supervision, through its restorative or supportive function, can address the mental health and well-being of frontline health workers through facilitated reflective practice, debriefing, and strengthening the supervisee’s stress management and coping mechanisms (8). The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance for healthcare workers of support (8). We cannot foresee what the future holds nor …
As mentioned previously, clinical supervision has not been regarded as an essential part of a nurse’s professional development. Factors such as workplace culture, organisational factors, time, an appropriate location, and the availability of technology, for instance Wi-Fi and computers, all act as potential barriers. For nurses working in remote settings and with indigenous communities, this …
COVID-19 added a new layer of complexity for health care workers. At times it might be hard to recall the level of fear, anger and distrust that accompanied the pandemic. The risks of exposure to COVID-19 were very real. Everyone operates within a system and COVID-19 added another element to this system (4-6). Nurses and …
Central to all supervision is confidentiality. All supervisees must be aware of the meaning and the limits of this principle. The supervisor must maintain a clear boundary between the supervisees and the employer/organisation. They will only report any concerns to the employer if they sense that the supervisee is at risk or is placing clients …
Adherence to a medication regimen can be defined as ‘the extent to which patients take medication as prescribed by health care providers’.(1) Continuous adherence to combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) is paramount to its success in effectively treating human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), achieving virological suppression, preserving immune function, avoiding drug resistance and preventing opportunistic infections.(2) More …
The importance of adherence to antiretroviral therapy Read More »
Caring for someone with cognitive impairment may at times be stressful. Assisting someone with practical activities such as medication adherence, help with cooking, shopping, and attending appointments, may all increase a caregiver’s exhaustion. Caregivers may be concerned about the person’s deterioration and what that means to their relationship; grief for the change in relationship – …
Changes in cognition may have an impact on daily function and the PLHIV may experience a level of disability related to their cognitive impairment as previously discussed. Cognitive difficulties can also lead to decreased socialising and increased social withdrawal. PLHIV need to be supported to maintain social connectedness and relationships. Providing information to the PLHIV …
HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND) is an umbrella term used to describe neurodegenerative disease caused by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 infection and may affect more than 30% of PLHIV (16) regardless of virological suppression (17). The central nervous system acts as a reservoir for HIV with neuronal damage occurring both at the time of initial HIV …
In addition to HAND, PLHIV may be at risk of developing other forms of dementia. Dementia is a term used to describe a group of conditions characterised by gradual impairment of brain function, which may impact cognition, memory, mobility, speech, personality, and behaviour. The most common form of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease; it is also …
Developing a sustainable HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Health Workforce
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We pay our respects to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of the past, present, and future, including the Gadigal peoples (Sydney office), the Turrbal and Jagera/Yuggera peoples (Brisbane office), and all First Nations people of the nations where we live and work.
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