A Qualitative analysis of Care values that need to be embraced and exhibited in the nursing care of patients with HIV and AIDS related illnesses in Zimbabwean hospitals

The context within which Nurses work has changed enormously since nursing models were first explored in relation to clinical practice. It is no longer acceptable to base practice on opinion, past practice, and precedent, as the culture of health Care has marginally shifted to evidence based decision making. In Zimbabwean Hospitals, there is no documented evidence to suggest that patients with HIV and AIDS are cared for using a theorized framework that meets the local needs. It is in light of such revelations that part of this study sought to ascertain the key nursing concepts that could be included in a future care model to better manage admitted HIV and AIDS patients. Purpose To determine nursing care values crucial in the nursing management of admitted patients with HIV and AIDS related illnesses. Methods: An interpretivist approach, which is a qualitative methodology, was preferred as the study sought through its methods to capture HIV and AIDS nursing care aspects in their entirety within the context of the patients and nurses who are experiencing them. Interpretive phenomenology was applied to explicitly describe the experience as lived by the respondents. Patients and nurses were purposively and conveniently sampled from which a sample size of 54 was obtained to inform the study. Respondents were included in the study on the basis of having been admitted for more than a day, conscious and mentally stable. The respondents shared their experiences when they were engaged through semi-structured interview schedules, focus group discussions and short essays. Results: A total of six (6) master themes emerged from this research question. These included; Need for Humaneness, “Ubuntu†, to be exhibited by the nurse: Need for Adherence; Need for Comprehensive care, also referred to as holistic care; Need for Competency among nurses tasked with delivering nursing care to admitted patients with HIV and AIDS related illnesses; Need for partnership, which can be established between the patient, family and nurse, as well as between nurses and other health care workers; and the Need for Sufficiency. Sufficiency should focus on staff, drugs and equipment adequacy. Conclusions Despite the progressions in the development of HIV medicines, nursing still needs to define its unique role and uphold the values as it delivers care to the admitted patients with HIV and AIDS related illnesses. A Qualitative analysis of Care values that need to be embraced and exhibited in the nursing care of patients with HIV and AIDS related illnesses in Zimbabwean hospitals.