Establishing an educational programme for nurses to supply emergency hormonal contraception (combined method) to protocol

This paper gives an account of an innovative educational programme develope d by the Department of Midwifery Studies nr the University of Central Lanca shire (UCLAN) in 1995. The North West Regional Health Authority (NWRHA) app roached the Department of Midwifery Studies to develop nn educational progr amme for family planning nurses to supply the combined method of emergency hormonal contraception (EHC) under protocol rr hen a doctor was not present The purpose was to increase the availability and accessibility of EHC for young people in the North West region. The 3-day programme was designed rn complement previous ENB 901/900 training, non also to provide the nurses wi th the specific skills and knowledge required to undertake this new role. O ne hundred mid thirty-nine nurses from the North West area attended the pro gramme between 1995-1998. Students were assessed both theoretically and cli nically. Extending the role of family planning nurses to supply EHC gives p urchasers and providers of sexual health care the potential to offer a wide r range of accessible services. The recently published interim Crown Report on the supply nod administration of medicines under group protocols states that protocols should specify clear arrangements for professional responsi bility and accountability. Appropriate training is essential to ensure that the extended role of the nurse in family planning is fully understood.