—By Allie Etzel, Senior—
During my public health internship at the AIDS Services of Austin or ASA, I have expanded my knowledge and experience in public health and HIV/AIDS care. I am working under the supervision of ASA’s Registered Nurse Medical Case Manager Andrew Martin, and our focus is on the components of the HIV/AIDS Care Continuum: HIV testing/diagnosis, linkage and retainment to care, access to antiretroviral therapy, and achieving viral suppression.
Throughout the summer, I have been working on various projects with Andrew that address the gaps and disparities in the care continuum. My main project has been calculating the AIDS Services of Austin’s community viral load. The purpose of this project is to indicate how many of the clients are virally suppressed as well as identify clients who have a high viral load. This is crucial in HIV care and public health because a low viral load can lead to a healthier and higher quality of life as well as decrease the risk of transmitting the virus to other individuals in the community. The next step of this project is to meet with clients with a high viral load to identify the barriers to viral suppression, link them to extra services and care, and work towards viral suppression.
Additionally, I have been able to work with clients in home and hospital visits, where I have implemented health education for current comorbidities. Because HIV is no longer considered a terminal diagnosis, many individuals with HIV have coexisting diseases, such as diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular disease. One of my favorite experiences thus far has been visiting a client in their home to teach them how to take their blood sugar properly, how and when to inject their insulin, and how to improve their diabetic regime to promote a healthier lifestyle. Making a home visit has been one of the most rewarding aspects of nursing that I have experienced because it is an intimate and personal way of helping clients achieve their health care goals.
Interning at ASA has been an incredible opportunity to learn more about the history, policy, and health care surrounding HIV/AIDS care and how it impacts the health of the community. Working with my internship supervisor Andrew has taught me how intricate and intertwined public health is in nearly all disciplines, and similarly, how complex and diverse the role of a nurse can be. My summer at ASA has encouraged me to continue learning about HIV/AIDS care and exploring the endless and exciting opportunities as a future nurse.