T. L. Wilson
Grand Canyon University
Professional Research Project
NRS-441V
March 19, 2013
Identifying a Problem
The clinical environment that I previously worked in was a correctional institution. During the time that I worked in corrections I encountered several inmates that had HIV. It was this environment and the experience that I received this idea and it is what gives me the inspiration to build a proposal for change. Within this system is where I discovered that staff was not receiving much prevention and education and the inmates were not receiving any prevention education at all. During the time that I worked in corrections and encountered individuals with HIV. One evening while running the medication line a 17 year old stepped to the medication window to receive his medication. His medication was a barrage of HIV antivirals. I was shocked and found the situation to be very disturbing. I assumed this bothered me because I also had a child this age.
The whole scenario of this young man having HIV made me feel as though somehow I had dropped the ball on him and his situation and let this young men down. I often wondered if this young man had been instructed on prevention and education prior to his HIV diagnoses. As health professional and a parent that situation personally left me feeling responsible as well as driven to do all that I can to get people educated regarding HIV prevention and education. After that initial shock wore off I encountered several others that crossed my path ranging in age from 17-21 that were HIV positive also. I also discovered that the staff and well as the inmates were in disparate need of a primary prevention and education plan.
As a fully staffed health care unit there was very little to no patient teaching being conducted. I feel that it is very important that a preventive and health management program be implemented for inmates as well as staff. The purpose of such a program for staff