Enfuvirtide for nurses: answering patient questions on activity, safety, and lifestyle impact.

ABSTRACT

The introduction of enfuvirtide, the first self-administered parenteral antiretroviral, has reinforced the HIV nurse's role in patient education, support, and motivation. Detailed background knowledge of the drug will assist nurses to provide answers to common questions and concerns raised during patient training. Three particular concerns often raised are curiosity about how enfuvirtide works, what side effects can be expected, and how these and the process of daily injection will affect the patient's daily routine. This brief review is designed to provide nurse-educators with clinical information on these three issues to help them better provide the answers patients will need to help them feel confident self-administering this new drug.