It is always a privilege to listen to experts in their field
STIF course was very enjoyable and informative experience. It is always a privilege to listen to experts in their field. I also found it a useful opportunity to share experiences and gain insight from the other participants giving insight into the patients’ experience/journey – why they might be referred and when to refer.
As a newly qualified nurse working for a year in sexual health, I found the course helped me fill in gaps in my knowledge and give a deeper understanding of why we do what we do. I particularly found the dermatology skin/normal anatomy session useful, it helped me build confidence when examining patients and to go on to share this with colleagues and give reassurance and explanation to clients.
The Foundation course was very good, very informative and all the speakers were very knowledgeable and approachable.
I highly recommend
My name is Mauro. I worked in sexual health for 12 years. 7 of those I worked as an advanced nurse practitioner.
As part of my learning I completed STIF foundation training. Once I have completed this I continued with the STIF programme and completed STIF intermediate and STIF advanced. Once I have completed those I undertook and completed STIF integrated.
I was part of the pilot for STIF Health advising competency.
STIF training focuses on the day to day skills you need to assess patients.
Completing the STIF trainings allowed me to gain the knowledge to see patients with complex need.
The structure of the training, with the online lessons and the one to one supervision in clinic, is the ideal mix to learn and develop new skills.
The STI Training and Assessment programme is a workplace-based training package that I highly recommend to clinicians working in sexual health. It gave me the knowledge and the confidence to treat patients in a level 3 sexual health service.
The sessions of the foundation course were really educative I feel more confident now.
I enjoyed the Foundation course so much.
I found my experience challenging at times. I had an extended time off and on my return to work i found it difficult to get back into it. My assessor was really great in helping me ease back into the competencies at a speed that suited me and my needs. I was able to apply for several extensions to help me have a longer time to meet and achieve each competency. I never once felt that these competencies was unachievable. I kept in regular communication with BASHH and found the responses to be very fair and supportive.
- How will this change your working practice?
I will be able to have my own nurse-led clinics. It will allow more appts in the GUM clinic which will help with the influx of people that we see on a daily basis. It will also allow me to continue my professional development, and it will mean that I will be able to work as part of a wider team.
- What did you find particularly useful/enjoyable?
I found the whole programme useful, and I think I enjoyed the face-to-face clinics the most. I really thrived on learning new skills and once each skill was achieved I felt a sense of accomplishment. Watching other colleagues who have been through the intermediate STIF pathway made me want to work harder and achieve each skill as soon as humanly possible. Thankfully I had Yvonne with me and she really is such a great assessor. She worked with me for such a long time to ensure that I gave my best and to make sure that I completed and achieved every competency.
- Would you recommend the pathway to your colleagues?
I would absolutely recommend it to colleagues, just like it was recommended to me by the four colleagues that went before me. I envied them and really couldn't wait to have my own clinics. I really love my job and anything that helps me progress in my career is definitely for the better and worth doing.
Aisling
- How has your experience been throughout the pathway?
My experience throughout the pathway was positive. I felt the contents of the course were very comprehensive and relevant to my scope of practice. Moreover, the e-learning alongside with practice was very important to boost my knowledge and professional development.
Additionally, I found that the team managing the pathway were very helpful and responsive.
2 -How will this change your working practice?
Throughout the programme, I was able to reflect on my practice and explored my ability to continuously identify my learning and practice needs. Additionally, I was able to pinpoint my clinical strengths and my own confidence in performing certain clinical tasks.
I felt that I have gained more independence and knowledge on identifying patient’s needs.
I have gained more in-depth knowledge on sexual transmitted infection, blood borne viruses and the lines of management of these infections.
Moreover, the pathway enables me to work more closely to my clinical supervisor, which helped me assess my competencies and knowledge. To discuss and plan and ways to archive the course main objectives.
3-What did you find particularly useful/enjoyable?
I found particularly interesting the meeting (initial, interim, final meetings) with my clinical supervisor and the directly observed practice and case-based discussions. This time were very valuable, as it facilitate me to evaluate my progress, my needs and to validate my clinical practice when assessing, diagnosing and treating patients.
I have also found enjoyable to get to know the patient feedback in regard to my practice and care.
4- Would you recommend the pathway to your colleagues?
I would definitely recommend this BASHH pathway to colleagues that are interested in brush their knowledge on Sexual transmitted infections and care management in this scope of practice. This pathway can actively help health care professionals to identify their clinical strengths and learning gaps. This course is definitely for those passionate about sexual health and to those that would like to learn and progress.
Octavia