A nurse-led clinic for the insertion of intrauterine devices: a template for training

T.A.M. Eady, M.J. Gormley

The Margaret Pyke Centre, Camden Primary Care Trust, London, UK

Introduction: The role of nurses in the provision of contraceptive services in the UK and elsewhere is under constant review. Nurse specialists are being trained to take a lead in a number of clinical tasks that previously were predominantly the responsibility of their medically qualified colleagues. The acceptability and high clinical standard associated with nurse-led provision of intrauterine devices (IUD) has been demonstrated previously. In 2003 the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) produced training guidance for nurses wanting to fit IUDs. Encouraged by our own experience with this we initiated training, which follows RCN guidelines

Aims and Methods: To show how the RCN guidance for training can be implemented in UK practice to ensure that nurses are appropriately trained to offer a quality IUD service.

Results: At the Margaret Pyke, of 448 devices inserted by nurses, 292 (65 percent) were copper IUDs and 146 (32.6 percent) were Mirena® intrauterine systems. We will present details of our theoretical and practical training programme, which is based on the RCN guidance, and how this and a nurse led service were implemented.

Conclusions: A nurse-led IUD clinic proves a useful development in the provision of contraceptive services. Our experience shows that it is clinically safe and meets with a high degree of patient satisfaction.