The nurse is providing discharge teaching to a client recently been diagnosed with HIV. The nurse knows the client has understood the instructions when he states that a goal of HIV pharmacotherapy is to:

Question

Standard Text: Select all that apply.
1. prevent HIV-related morbidity.
2. prolong survival.
3. restore and preserve immunologic function.
4. increase viral load.
5. eliminate the potential for transmission from mother to child in pregnant clients who have HIV infection.

Answer 1

Correct Answer: 2,3
Rationale 1: A goal of HIV pharmacotherapy is to decrease HIV-related morbidity. It is not realistic to expect the therapy to prevent morbidity.
Rationale 2: A goal of HIV pharmacotherapy is to prolong survival with HIV.
Rationale 3: A goal of HIV pharmacotherapy is to restore and preserve immunologic function.
Rationale 4: A goal of HIV pharmacotherapy is to suppress the viral load, not increase it.
Rationale 5: It is impossible to eliminate the potential for transmission of HIV from a mother to a child in pregnant clients. It can, however, be reduced with HIV pharmacotherapy.
Global Rationale: At present the disease cannot be cured and goals of therapy include reducing morbidity, improving quality of life, restoring and preserving immunologic function, suppressing viral load, and preventing transmission from mother to child in pregnant patients who have HIV infection.