Counseling employees at risk for HIV.

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is a preventable, bloodborne, and sexually transmitted disease which represents the major public health crisis of the century. Because treatments are costly and in their infancy, education in disease prevention is a major tool in battling this epidemic. One technique is to target individuals whose behavior places them at risk for infection and then providing individualized counseling and HIV antibody testing. The HIV antibody test is an important complement to diagnosis and care, and a mechanism to educate and foster behavior change through counseling in those who believe they are at risk. The occupational health nurse's role is to assess employees' risk and provide or refer those employees with a risk factor for individualized counseling and voluntary HIV antibody testing. Counseling and testing should be provided by a knowledgeable health care provider in a climate that protects individuals from discrimination and provides confidentiality.