Examining the scope of public health nursing practice in sexually transmitted infection prevention and management: what do nurses do?

Aims and objectives To develop a more comprehensive understanding of the scope of public health nursing practice in the prevention and management of sexually transmitted infections and also to examine the public health nursing workforce in sexually transmitted infection care and the range of patient populations served. Background Sexually transmitted infections are increasing, widespread and remain a significant public health problem throughout the world. Although nurses are taking on expanded roles in sexually transmitted infection care, little is known about the scope of this practice. Design A cross‐sectional descriptive study took place over 18 months (2009–2010). Methods Three hundred and fourteen eligible nurses completed a 62‐item questionnaire. Results 93·6% of participants were women; 77·5% were baccalaureate prepared and 87·9% underwent continuing education in sexually transmitted infection care. Most spent 50% of their time in direct patient care. Women were the main care recipients (72·9%). Sexually transmitted infection care was one aspect of nurses' multifaceted public health roles accounting for 28% of overall work activities. Not all nurses were working to the full scope of their practice; 77·9% undertook health history assessment, and 79% conducted testing. Conclusion This study is a comprehensive description of the scope of sexually transmitted infection nursing practice activities. It expands our understanding of sexually transmitted infection nursing practice among nurses working within an expanded scope and provides a baseline for future investigations. This description is situated within nursing competencies and best practices that may be used to develop, implement and evaluate models of sexually transmitted infection service delivery in other locales. Clinical Practice Relevance Sexually transmitted infection nursing practice needs to be understood and investigated beyond health education and testing practices. The scope of practice is comprehensive and incorporates a full spectrum of care. Public health nurses are a critical entry point into the healthcare system and provide primary and preventative care and healthcare referrals. Models of nursing care need to support nurses working to their full scope, and associated barriers warrant further investigation.