RCN Launches New Sexual Health Skills Framework

Main Category: Sexual Health / STDs
Article Date: 23 Jun 2009 - 3:00 PDT

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The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) launched new guidance to help sexual and reproductive health nurses to provide the safest, most effective practice.

The Safer Health Competences document, available online, outlines the skills that sexual and reproductive health nurses from primary, secondary and community care settings across the UK need to develop in order to provide safe, effective and accountable care to patients.

The framework is designed as a template that can be modified to suit local needs. It is intended to help managers and individual practitioners to review their strengths and identify gaps in their skills and abilities to determine specific training and development needs.

Dr Peter Carter, Chief Executive and General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, said:

"Nurses play a vitally important role in sexual and reproductive healthcare. This guidance will help to inform the commissioning, development and delivery of appropriate education and training to ensure these nurses have the best possible skills to suit the needs of the patients in their local area."

The current document has been accredited by the RCN Accreditation Unit and will be valid until November 2011. It reflects new guidance and also includes information on the role of the consultant nurse. The Sexual Health Competences document is available at http://www.rcn.org.uk/development/publications

Source
Royal College of Nursing