Conclusion

Ethics has always been a core component of HIV nursing and it can be argued that nurses working in HIV have been at the forefront of ethical practice since the start of the epidemic.[50][51]Nurses must be educationally prepared and capable of contributing to and making sound moral decisions based on evidence and careful ethical thinking and there is a continuing need for strong advocacy and ethical leadership in the field of HIV nursing.  Several key ethical issues in HIV nursing have been discussed here, including stigma and discrimination, HIV disclosure, informed consent, confidentiality and quality of life.  The concepts raised are applicable to all ethical issues encountered within this challenging nursing specialty.

Within the collaborative, client-centred framework of the HIV health-care sector, the nursing profession can contribute to the best possible outcomes for people with HIV, through protecting and promoting their human rights, through individual and collective advocacy, and through adhering to its firm foundation in professional nursing ethics.