Nursing management of anxiety in HIV infection

Anxiety is a universal problem for individuals with AIDS because the disease creates uncertainty and disruptions in every aspect of their lives. Nurses have a wide variety of holistic interventions to help persons living with AIDS (PLWAs) manage anxiety. Orem’s self-care theory of nursing provides a framework for assessing, diagnosing, planning, implementing, and evaluating nursing care for an HIV-infected person experiencing anxiety. This article presents an overview of anxiety, the nature of anxiety in HIV-infected individuals, and psychological, pharmacological, and holistic interventions to assist the client in self-care of anxiety.