Cervical Screening for Healthcare Professionals – Upskilling Pathway – Distance Education (For Medical Doctors)

True provides a pathway for upskilling of knowledge and skills in cervical screening for those healthcare professionals who have previously been trained and worked independently in providing cervical screening/pap smear services. This option is intended for those rural and remote clinicians who have not performed cervical screening for some time and are required to undertake re-training and update before re-introducing this service into their scope of practice.

Delivery method: Blended

• Online, self-paced pre-reading
• Live-online theory course delivered via Zoom webinar
• Clinical attachment in own workplace

True offers this training in-person in our Windsor (Brisbane) training rooms and clinic

Who should register?
Medical officers, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, registered midwives, enrolled nurses, or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioners with prior cervical screening qualifications who are living rurally or remotely


Eligibility
To be eligible for the upskilling pathway, evidence of prior training or pap smear authorisation is essential to meet Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) requirements for the novice component of the course.

If it has been more than 5 years since performing cervical screening services, you will need to discuss your individual case for RPL with the Lead Nurse Educator. 

Other eligibility requirements:

• Current AHPRA registration
• Must work in a setting where cervical screening services are provided
• Cervical screening must be within scope of practice
• Must have reliable internet connection and access to Zoom

Course overview
If you have not previously been trained in cervical screening/pap smear services, please refer to the Cervical Screening for Healthcare Professionals – Distance Education course.

This course is comprised of three (3) components:

1. Theory

• Approximately 6 hours of online, self-paced pre-reading completed within 6 weeks of attending face-to-face course
• 2 half-day theory sessions via Zoom webinar (each session is 4 hours in duration)
• Zoom sessions will consist of lecture-style presentations from clinical experts and small group activities in virtual breakout rooms
• Theory topics covered at the course include:
• National Cervical Screening Program
• Interpreting cervical screening results
• Investigations, procedures, and treatment
• Gynaecological issues and STIs in cervical screening
• Case studies
   

2. Assessment

• Online, open book, multiple choice assessment
• Takes place at end of the theory course
• 80% pass mark is required before commencement of the clinical attachment
   

3. Workplace clinical attachment

• Follows successful completion of Theory and Assessment components
• Clinical portfolio is provided to record training
• A minimum of 5 supervised cervical screens with a workplace preceptor (see below) are required, ensuring competency requirements are met
• Clinical attachment is to be completed and portfolio submitted within 6 months

Course outcomes
Successful participants will receive a Statement of Completion for training.

The aim of this course is to provide an opportunity for health professionals to refresh cervical screening knowledge and skills. Successful completion of the course will allow non-medical participants to be eligible to apply to their employers to become an authorised non-medical cervical screening provider* in their workplace.

*Per the National Cervical Screening Program Quality Framework document, ‘Non-medical cervical screening providers’ is an umbrella term, used to describe all healthcare professionals who are not medical practitioners and who offer a cervical screening service. This includes Aboriginal Health Workers, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioners, Registered Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, Enrolled Nurses, Registered Midwives, Eligible Midwives and Endorsed Midwives.


Payment policy
When registering to attend a Clinical Education course:

• Payment must be made within 7 days of registration
• Registration will be cancelled if payment is not received within 7 days from registration
• Payment is required to secure a position in the course
• Unpaid registrations will not be admitted to the course.
• Notification of cancelled registrations will be emailed to the participant. True is not responsible for travel or other costs resulting from cancelling unpaid registrations.