A patient with HIV asks the nurse if thinking about dying frequently is common with HIV. What is an appropriate response by the nurse?
a. "HIV is a serious disease that results in death."
b. "Thinking about death will not change the prognosis."
c. "HIV is now considered a chronic disease with treatment."
d. "HIV has a very high mortality rate, so it is realistic to plan for death."
ANS: C
HIV disease is characterized as a chronic disease rather than a life-ending illness. "Cocktails" of multiple antiretroviral drugs have reduced viral loads in the bloodstream and increased CD4+ T-lymphocyte counts, resulting in prolonged survival. A. B. D. Not everyone who is HIV positive develops AIDS and dies. The patient should be encouraged to think about the positive treatment available and not about the possibility of dying.
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