AIDS attitudes and attitudes toward caring for dying patients

This article reports on a survey of nursing staff working in AIDS residential health care facilities. More than two-thirds of respondents expressed non-punitive attitudes towards AIDS. Certified nursing assistants were more likely to report negative attitudes toward eating for dying patients than registered nurses. In general, respondents who had less punitive AIDS attitudes also reported less negative attitudes toward caring for dying patients. Nursing staff in AIDS residential facilities may benefit from further training that addresses issues involved in working with AIDS patients and caring for dying patients.