HIV/AIDS Nurse Career Overview
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How Long to Become
2-4 Years
Average Annual Salary
$93,600 for all RNs
Job Outlook (2024-2034)
5% Growth for all RNs
HIV/AIDS nurses understand — like no other healthcare professional — the unique needs and challenges faced by people living with HIV/AIDS. The need for HIV/AIDS nurses will only surge as more than half of patients living with HIV/AIDS will be 70 years or older by 2030 and may struggle with multiple comorbidities.
This HIV nursing guide explains how to become an HIV/AIDS nurse, what they make, and what they do.
What Does an HIV/AIDS Nurse Do?
HIV/AIDS nurses hold registered nurse (RN) licenses and often certifications to care for people living with infectious diseases and HIV/AIDS. This position provides long-term care to improve the lives of patients. Healthcare workers in HIV nursing often see the same patients from the time of diagnosis.
Education serves as a major focus for HIV/AIDS nurses who teach patients about treatment options. Nurses in this specialty work with physicians, nurse practitioners, case managers, and specialists to develop healthcare plans and deliver treatments. HIV/AIDS nurses also help patients who may encounter barriers to accessing treatments.
Primary Responsibilities
- Conduct physical exams and document medical information
- Perform complete blood count testing, screen for sexually transmitted diseases, and check viral loads
- Coordinate evidence-based care and report to state labs
- Provide education about lifestyle risks and behavioral changes
- Record patient progress and assess emotional and social needs
- Work with physicians, social workers, case managers, and behavioral health specialists
- Practice and support
Career Traits
- Caring
- Empathetic
- Team player
- Knowledgeable about HIV/AIDS
Certification Option: HIV/AIDS Certified Registered Nurse
Where Do HIV/AIDS Nurses Work?
People living with HIV/AIDS use prevention and treatment services at various facilities. Drug and alcohol treatment centers, medical clinics, community health centers, and state agencies hire HIV/AIDS nurses to deliver care, educate nurses and the public, and conduct clinical research.
Clinics
HIV/AIDS nurses work at family health centers, alcohol treatment centers, and women’s and men’s health clinics. HIV/AIDS nurses focus on long-term acute care and preventative treatment of at-risk individuals. They also provide telephone triage, arrange lab work, administer medications, and provide education outreach.
Medical Research Center
Research colleges around the country need RNs with clinical and research experience. Nurses provide direct patient care and education, which could include identifying study subjects, taking medical histories, processing specimens, and following ethical research protocols.
Long-Term Health Facility
Nurses who work at long-term health facilities often provide in-home and on-site healthcare visits. They track patients to prevent emergency room visits and work on teams to help patients improve their quality of life.
Why Become an HIV/AIDS Nurse?
The job has its benefits and drawbacks. Pursuing a career in HIV nursing offers a chance to treat culturally diverse patient populations in multidisciplinary settings. Working in HIV nursing requires emotional and physical strength to work with patients who often have acute care needs. Nurses provide counseling to patients and help them find social support.
Below are additional advantages and disadvantages of HIV nursing.
Advantages to Becoming an HIV/AIDS Nurse
Form long-term relationships and build trust- Collaborate with other healthcare professionals
- Use data to improve nursing care and patient outcomes
- Improve quality of life for people living with HIV/AIDs
Disadvantages to Becoming an HIV/AIDS Nurse
Requires sitting and standing for extensive periods of time- Can be emotionally and physically exhausting; patients may pass away
- Must be able to handle large caseloads
- Must treat patients with complicated nursing needs
How to Become an HIV/AIDS Nurse
It takes years to secure a position in HIV nursing. Earning a college education serves as the first step toward becoming an HIV/AIDS nurse. That said, every nurse’s journey looks different.
- 1
Earn a bachelor’s degree in nursing or associate degree in nursing
RNs need to complete an accredited nursing program to earn a license. They can complete a bachelor’s in nursing in four years or take two years to get their associate in nursing. What degree they pursue depends on the career they want.
- 2
Pass the NCLEX-RN exam to receive an RN license
Nursing school graduates can take the National Council Licensure Examination for RNs (NCLEX-RN) about 45 days after graduating from an associate or bachelor’s degree nursing program. The computer-based NCLEX adapts questions based on the answers provided by test-takers. Applicants complete between 76-265 questions.
- 3
Gain experience in infectious diseases and HIV/AIDS
Employers require RNs who have experience working in infectious diseases and HIV/AIDS. Future HIV/AIDS nurses typically gain experience in nursing schools that provide specialties in HIV care and prevention, often during clinical practicums.
Entry-level nursing jobs also provide opportunities for nursing school graduates to work in a specialty area. - 4
Consider becoming an HIV/AIDS certified registered nurse (ACRN)
Becoming an ACRN lets employers know you have the specialized skills and experience needed in HIV nursing. This optional credential can open the doors to higher-paying nursing positions.
The HIV/AIDS Nursing Certification Board oversees the certification process which requires applicants to hold a current RN license and have at least two years of HIV nursing experience.
What Is the Average Salary for HIV/AIDS Nurses?
Salaries for HIV/AIDS nurses compare to those for RNs. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), RNs earn a mean annual wage of $93,600. They can earn more in the Federal Government, which pay RNs an annual mean salary of $124,460, or in medical equipment and supplies anufacturing, where RNs make a mean annual wage of $116,040.
In states such as California, Hawaii, and Oregon —the top-paying states in the country — RNs respectively earn annual mean wages between $148,330-$120,470. With a graduate degree, nurses can become an advanced HIV/AIDS certified registered nurse (AACRN) and potentially increase their salary.
HIV nursing jobs, as projected for all RNs, should increase over the next decade. Jobs for RNs will grow by 5% from 2024-2034 as the industry adds some 189,100 positions every year.
Demand for this role may increase as people living with HIV/AIDS grow older and experience more complicated healthcare needs. As of 2020, 50% of people with HIV/AIDS are 50 years or older.
Frequently Asked Questions About HIV/AIDS Nurses
No. Employers rarely require certification for entry-level HIV nursing positions. However, certain managerial positions, such as clinical nurse case managers, nurse supervisors, and site directors, require certification in HIV nursing. These upper-level management positions also require prior work experience in infectious diseases and HIV/AIDS.
Reviewed by:
Anna-Lise Krippaehne has been a nurse for over 10 years, working in acute care before pursuing her doctor of nursing practice. Her interests include preventive care, health promotion, and quality improvement. She currently works in palliative care in Northern California, where she is passionate in providing patient-centered and holistic care to all she serves.
