Nearly four decades into the HIV epidemic, advances in diagnosis and treatment have transformed an almost universally fatal illness into a manageable chronic health problem.
People with HIV are living longer, with primary care needs similar to those without HIV.
However, with this success comes a new challenge. Many providers who were instrumental in the early success of HIV care are now retiring, leading to a growing demand for a new generation of HIV specialists. Duke University School of Nursing’s advanced practice HIV specialty addresses this need by uniquely positioning nurse practitioners to provide comprehensive, patient-centered HIV primary care.
Our distance-based curriculum includes nine credit hours of foundational and clinical courses in the prevention, care and treatment of adults living with HIV. To solidify your skills, you’ll complete a 168-hour clinical practicum under the mentorship of an experienced HIV primary care clinician.
The HIV nursing specialty is open to MSN students enrolled in Duke’s Adult-Gerontology, Family, Psychiatric Mental Health and Women’s Health nurse practitioner programs, and graduates of those programs currently pursuing the Duke DNP.
The HIV specialist certificate is also available as a non-degree option for licensed clinicians seeking to advance their knowledge and expertise in caring for this unique patient population.
HIV Nursing Specialty Highlights
Our HIV specialty for advanced practitioners offers a unique blend of online learning, hands-on experience and expert mentorship to prepare you for a rewarding career as an HIV specialist. With this program, you will:
Become an HIV expert:
As a student in our HIV nursing program, you’ll gain sought-after knowledge and skills through didactic instruction in HIV/AIDS pathophysiology, pharmacotherapy, psychosocial issues and clinical management. Our HIV specialization prepares you to provide the full spectrum of HIV care, from prevention to primary care for people living with HIV. Graduates of the program are eligible to sit for the American Academy of HIV Medicine HIV Specialist examination.
Develop real-world skills:
Through your 168-hour clinical practicum, you’ll gain vital hands-on experience for success as an HIV specialist in diverse settings. Graduates of the program have gone on to manage the primary care needs of adolescents and adults living with HIV in a diverse array of outpatient clinical settings, including federally qualified community health centers, Ryan White–funded HIV clinics, infectious disease specialty clinics, health department clinics, VAMC clinics and academic medical centers.
Learn from experienced HIV specialists:
Our HIV specialty courses are taught by a highly experienced interprofessional faculty with over 30 years of combined expertise in HIV primary care. Additionally, during your two-day, on-campus learning intensive experience — a highlight of the program for many students — you’ll learn from HIV primary care experts from Duke and UNC, engage in group learning sessions and participate in simulation scenarios.
HIV Specialty Courses
Our convenient, distance-based curriculum includes nine credit hours of courses with a strong focus on the unique primary care and psychosocial needs of adults living with HIV.
Through a combination of coursework and a supervised clinical practicum, you’ll gain expertise in diagnosing and treating HIV across different age groups, explore common health issues experienced by people living with HIV and navigate the complex social, legal and ethical considerations surrounding the disease.
The three courses you’ll take as you earn your HIV specialty certificate are:
- NUR 846: Advanced Practice Nursing: HIV Specialty I (Spring only).
- NUR 849: Advanced Practice Nursing: Advanced Practice Nursing: HIV Specialty II (Summer only).
- NUR 848: Advanced Practice Nursing in HIV Synthesis (168-hour clinical practicum).
Learn More About Our HIV Nursing Program
Enrollment Options
The HIV nursing specialty is available to nurse practitioner students and practicing nurse practitioners who manage adult patients in primary care or specialty settings.
Current MSN students interested in adding the specialty to their academic plan must complete the Add a Specialty Form.
Licensed health care providers with a master’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution (e.g., physician assistants, MDs) interested in the HIV specialty certificate should follow instructions for the Specialty Certificate application. Enrollment decisions are made by the lead faculty of the specialty based on space availability.
Specialty Director
Kara McGee
DMS, MSPH, PA-C, AAHIVS
Kara McGee.
Learn more about Kara McGee: Scholars@Duke
Q&A With Lead Faculty Kara McGee
HIV primary care is a wonderful specialty. HIV is an interesting disease from a scientific standpoint, with ever-evolving treatment options. Most importantly, caring for people living with HIV allows for the development of long-term patient-provider relationships, which are very meaningful for both me and my patients.
Caring for people living with HIV is special. Unfortunately, people living with HIV often have negative health care experiences because of HIV-related stigma. As advanced practice providers working in HIV, we have an opportunity to ensure that people living with HIV have positive experiences with our health care system and the opportunity to advocate for improvements in our health systems so that all people are cared for with compassion. In addition, HIV care requires an interprofessional team of providers, so advanced practice providers in this specialty get to work with a wide variety of professionals, including physicians, pharmacists, social workers, nurses and case managers.
Anyone interested in chronic disease management and practicing in a setting that allows for the development of long-term patient-provider relationships.
A nurse practitioner student or practicing nurse practitioner with an interest in chronic disease management.
Caring for people living with HIV is very rewarding. There is an opportunity to positively impact people’s lives and contribute to caring for people who are vulnerable to stigma and discrimination. Additionally, there are many opportunities to participate in advocacy work, community outreach and research.