Integration of the national HIV and AIDS strategy in nursing curricula as a vehicle for education and local impact

Background and Issues: HIV is a generalized epidemic in many US urban centers. HIV transcends the lifespan and other major benchmarks in nursing curricula. The HIV scientific community has confirmed in recent years that it is advantageous to treat people with HIV with Antiretroviral Therapy earlier both for individual and public benefits. It is essential to galvanize the health workforce to achieve the goals of our National HIV and AIDS Strategy. Description: Since September 2011, 200 nursing students and faculty were trained through a didactic and hands-on curriculum, Preparing the Future, at the University of Maryland. Faculty from medicine, social work, pharmacy, law and dentistry also created curriculum-level interventions to teach cultural competence, chronic disease management, health assessment and public health. Program data encouraged SON leadership to consider integration of PTF across undergraduate and graduate curricula. Program planners are working with curriculum committees to integrate didactic modules in HIV across the lifespan, coupled with hands-on learning. Lessons Learned: HIV is a vehicle to teach concepts that apply across the lifespan in an inter-disciplinary fashion. HIV is a national health priority. Students have tested 2,500 citizens for HIV, encountering 30 people living with HIV that they have provided linkage and re-engagement in HIV care. Recommendations: PTF is a model that is adaptable in other urban academic centers, particularly to promote acquisition to key curricular components in nursing as well as serve the community. Partnership across academic programs and a local HIV provider allows for the development of infrastructure to support interventions.