A nurse-led clinic for the insertion of intrauterine devices: a template
for training
T.A.M. Eady, M.J. Gormley
The Margaret Pyke Centre, Camden Primary Care Trust, London, UK
Introduction: The role of nurses in the provision of contraceptive
services in the UK and elsewhere is under constant review. Nurse specialists are
being trained to take a lead in a number of clinical tasks that previously were
predominantly the responsibility of their medically qualified colleagues. The
acceptability and high clinical standard associated with nurse-led provision of
intrauterine devices (IUD) has been demonstrated previously. In 2003 the Royal
College of Nursing (RCN) produced training guidance for nurses wanting to fit
IUDs. Encouraged by our own experience with this we initiated training, which
follows RCN guidelines
Aims and Methods: To show how the RCN guidance for training can be
implemented in UK practice to ensure that nurses are appropriately trained to
offer a quality IUD service.
Results: At the Margaret Pyke, of 448 devices inserted by nurses, 292
(65 percent) were copper IUDs and 146 (32.6 percent) were Mirena® intrauterine
systems. We will present details of our theoretical and practical training
programme, which is based on the RCN guidance, and how this and a nurse led
service were implemented.
Conclusions: A nurse-led IUD clinic proves a useful development in the
provision of contraceptive services. Our experience shows that it is clinically
safe and meets with a high degree of patient satisfaction.
