The objective of the present study was to clarify the differents aspects of the meaning of care for patients with AIDS as seen by nursing employees who provide this care. The research methodology used has been a qualitative one phenomenologic investigation - that would permit access to this topic of study and to its essence. Thus, statements were obtained from the employees of a Clinic for Infectious - Contagious Diseases of a General Teaching Hospital in response to the following quiding question: "What does it mean to you to care for a patient whith AIDS ? The statements were analyzed according to their convergencies using the steps of phenomenologic research, and the significant units that express the essence of the meaning of this care were elaborated from them. The results led the classification of important aspects related to the care for the patients with AIDS, such as the risk an fear that permeat the daily work routine of these employees, the disconfort generated by the need using several parameters for the execution of the techniques, and the difficulty they experience in dealing with patients that are perceived by them as "difficult" ones. Fundamental aspects have been also verbalized by the employees, such as a personal option to care for these patients, associated with the need for preparation, appreciation and recognition. In the author's opinion, the classification of these aspects opens new means for nursing care to patients with AIDS by contemplating the essence of care as seen by those who provide it, in its situationality.
