Student nurses’ perceptions and experiences in caring for people living with HIV/AIDS: a qualitative study

BACKGROUND: Caring for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) requires clinical experience and quality care delivery skills. This study aimed to explore the perceptions and experiences of nursing students in caring for PLWHAs. METHODS: This qualitative descriptive study interviewed 18 student nurses who had cared for PLWHAs from 14 tertiary hospitals across 7 provinces in China through semi-structured telephone interviews. RESULTS: Two themes emerged from the narratives: student nurses’ perceptions and attitudes toward PLWHAs and student nurses’ practical experiences with PLWHAs. Five theme clusters were revealed, namely “negative attitudes held before the care-giving,” “a series of psychological struggles in care-giving,” “favorable attitudes increased after the care-giving,” “consensus on care delivery for PLWHAs,” and “considerations regarding contamination reduction.” CONCLUSIONS: Findings shed light on the development and changes in student nurses' perspectives on PLWHAs throughout their clinical experiences. Student nurses' perceptions and attitudes toward PLWHAs progressed through three distinct stages, and positive changes were observed after care-giving. Participants' perceptions and practical experiences with patients with AIDS enable patients to receive fair and high-quality care and provide valuable insights for nursing educators better prepare HIV nurses. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12909-023-04074-x.