The development of a Clinical Nurse Specialist training programme
S. L. McVicker
Abacus Clinics for Contraception and Reproductive Health Care, North
Liverpool Primary Care Trust, UK
Introduction: Nurse-led clinics are routine within our busy
contraception and reproductive health service, involving the initial and repeat
issue of hormonal contraception according to Patient Group Directions and
cytology screening. Nationally there is a move to encourage nurses to continue
professional development within their area of expertise. A need for the
development of a Clinical Nurse Specialist was identified within our service
both as a result of the ongoing professional development of some experienced
nurses and the local and national shortage of appropriately trained medical
staff. The next step in the development of the nurse is to become competent to
insert uncomplicated IUD/IUS and contraceptive implants. On investigation it was
discovered that there was not a suitable training programme available to assist
with the achievement of the required competencies.
Objective: To design a training programme to develop a Clinical Nurse
Specialist in Contraception and Reproductive Health Care to meet the needs of
the service.
Design and Methods: The tasks and roles the nurse would be required to
undertake were identified together with the training and development needs for
her to achieve the competencies to undertake them.
Results: A training programme to develop a Clinical Nurse Specialist
has been designed to accommodate the needs of both the service and the nurse,
which can be adapted to accommodate any changing needs in the future. Part of
the programme has been designed utilising in-house availability of Faculty of
Family Planning Instructing doctors with an appropriate letter of competence for
insertion of IUD/IUS and Contraceptive implants. Also academic development and
support has been obtained from a regional University in the form of a Sexual
Health degree pathway.
Conclusions: With imagination and planning, training programmes can be
designed to suit and achieve individual service needs leading to a more flexible
service and improving the development opportunities for staff.
