AIDS Care Nurse

Answer 1

An AIDS care nurse is the person that cares for children, adults, teenagers and young adults that have HIV/AIDS. She or he helps them to learn about the disease and helps them to know the signs and symptoms of infections. The AIDS care nurse also helps them to be aware of lifestyle choices that affect the progression of this disease. She or he also helps patients to understand the treatments prescribed to them.

Job Description

An AIDS care nurse treats, educates and provides advice and emotional support to their patients and the patient’s family members. They also record a patient’s medical history and symptoms, help perform tests and analyze results, operate medical machinery, administer treatment, and medications, and help with patient follow-up and rehab. They teach the patients and their families how to manage illnesses or injuries. AIDS care nurses do much of what any RN would do but they care for patients that have been diagnosed with HIV and AIDS.

Job Requirements

In order to seek out a position as an AIDS care nurse, you first need to become a registered nurse. This can be done three different ways: an associate degree, a bachelor’s degree, or a diploma from an approved nursing program. Most nurses find that an associate or bachelor’s degree is the best to have. After graduating, individuals must complete a national licensing exam to obtain a nursing license.

Salary Expectations

An AIDS care nurse can expect the same salary as any registered nurse. Median salaries were around $62,450 in May 2008. It can range anywhere from $51,640 and $76,570. The lowest reported around $43,410 and the highest reported was $92,240. It all depends on your level of experience, what type of setting you are working in and where you are. A city that has a higher cost of living, will generate a higher salary.

Job Outlook

Overall, for registered nurses, the job outlook is said to be excellent, but could vary by employment and location. Registered nursing is expected to grow much faster than any other occupation with 581,500 new jobs resulting. Also, as more nurses leave the occupation, for whatever reason, they will need to be replaced which will open up even more job positions.