The STI/HIV Division at the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) is announcing important changes and updates regarding nursing certified practice in sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in four key areas:
BCCDC’s STI Certified Practice Online Course has been approved by the College of Registered Nurses of British Columbia (CRNBC) as a certifying education program for registered nurses practicing in the field of STI. Priority will be given to those nurses requiring STI certification to perform their job responsibilities.
Please visit the Health Education and Events section for registration and more details.
Until further notice from the CRNBC, the Provincial Public Health Nurses Pre-Determined STI Treatment Schedule is the recommended resource for registered nurses providing STI care. Currently the revisions for the CRNBC STI Decision Support Tools remain in process.
The STI DSTs will be divided into two chapters. Chapter I will include CRNBC Certified Practice infections – Reproductive Health/STI, and can be accessed at the CRNBC website. Chapter II will include those infections that do not fall under Certified Practice, and can be accessed via the BCCDC website.
CRNBC has approved the BC Centre for Disease Control's (BCCDC) STI education course as a recognized program to provide Certified Practice STI education for registered nurses in BC. During the transition period for implementing certified practices in BC, the BCCDC will be offering an on-line Exit Evaluation (challenge exam) to RNs who are currently practicing in STIs as one of the options to meet the criteria for CRNBC Certification in Reproductive Health/STI. The web-based, “open book” (using the STI Decision Support Tools), multiple choice exam will be available to schedule through STI/HIV Prevention and Control. Employers can choose for their RNs take the exam in their own community or at the BCCDC in Vancouver with invigilation provided.
The College of Registered Nurses of British Columbia (CRNBC) has agreed that those nurses who have successfully completed the BC Centre for Disease Control’s STI Online Course between September 2005 and July 2009 may directly apply for certification.
Apply for certification on the CRNBC website.
