Viral hepatitis.

The patient with viral hepatitis has been of considerable concern to health care professionals for many years. Researchers have identified at least three types of hepatitis (hepatitis type A, hepatitis type B, and hepatitis non-A, non-B) and knowledge of each type is rapidly increasing. Sufficient data no exist to evaluate the real risks to patient contacts and to health care personnel. Using this wealth of information, staff nurses should be able to apply the nursing process to provide optimal care for patients with viral hepatitis and to minimize the spread of this infection in the hospital setting. They should also be aware that continuing research in this field may result in additional changes in nursing care, and thus they should be prepared to revise their thinking as new information becomes available.