Sexual health skills overview

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is running a new sexual health skills distance learning programme.

This course provides a strong, broad foundation in sexual health, with specific aims in line with The Teenage Pregnancy Unit and National Sexual Health and HIV Strategy. The course is designed:

• for anyone who has some sexual health responsibilities as part of their role;
  
• as a grounding for those wishing to move into sexual health as a career development;
  
• as a way to re-enter the profession after periods away as part of Return to Nursing professional development; or
  
• as a good grounding for developing into other sexual health courses, such as the R71 (or equivalent), the contraception (previously family planning) course, as well GU and HIV courses. This course does not replace these courses, but acts as a foundation to them.

The course will last for 12 weeks and the official rough guide is 200 study hours across the 12 weeks, which is approximately 16½ hours per week. This course enables carers to be more proactive and effective in dealing with front line issues of sexual health, contraception and infections. By the end of the course you will have:

• the ability to make successful sexual health assessments of clients;
  
• an awareness of the competing influences of sexual health and illness;
  
• a deep understanding of the implications of sexual health and illness; and
  
• an awareness of sexual ill health nationally and locally.

The course is assessed in a number of ways:

• a 2000 word essay;
  
• a 1000 word Critical Learning Analysis on one of four placements;
  
• four placements; and
  
• two away days at a local RCN centre.

The course costs £150.00 and you do not have to be an RCN member to take this course. However, what you will be able to do on completion of the course will be dependent on your previous qualifications and experience. The course has been accredited by the University of Greenwich as a double-module - worth 30 credits at Level II or Level III. Assessment standards will be slightly higher for those in Level III than for those in Level II.

( For more information about the course write to Sexual Health Skills DLP, Room 401, RCN Institute, 20 Cavendish Square, London W1G 0RN or telephone 020 7647 3757, fax: 020 7647 3431 or email sexualhealthPND@rcn.org.uk

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