Registered nurse/ midwife/ new to sexual health and reproductive health care

It is noted that midwives, as well as registered nurses, will work in sexual health services, and are included here to support their progression in this area of practice.

When starting a journey around sexual health and reproductive health and wellbeing, consideration needs to be given to the following:

• balancing existing knowledge
• understanding the value of transferable skills and experience
• considering formal learning opportunities
• identifying and using reflective practice opportunities
• having a passion and enthusiasm for the subject.

During pre-registration education, all nurses and midwives should develop skills around exploring an individual’s patient’s sexual health and wellbeing. This includes understanding the complexity of the subject and using sensitivity when asking patients questions.

For midwives not primarily working in maternity care, it is important to ensure they meet the NMC's revalidation requirements. Further information on revalidation for midwives working outside of maternity care can be found on our website.

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) sets the standards of proficiency for registered nurses and registered midwives.

The NMC standards represent the knowledge, skills, and behaviours that all nurses and midwives must have.

The NMC has also developed a framework for nursing and midwifery education to ensure that the standards of proficiency are met in practice.

Any development of practice needs to consider reaching a foundation level of practice across the four pillars of Clinical Practice, Leadership and Management, Education and Research.

Universities across the UK provide a wide range of accredited modules and programmes related to sexual health and reproductive health.

Contact the local university and/or education leads/managers for further details, including access to support for funding and time to study, as part of CPD requirements.

Some universities acknowledge the CoSRH Diploma (DCSRH) and certain BASHH courses with credit equivalence.

Learners who hold these courses and want to progress to a “top-up” BSc (Hons) Professional Practice sexual health route or postgraduate study can use them to gain recognised credit — usually up to 50%, and sometimes more, depending on the programme.

For example, the University of Greenwich accepts these credits toward the PGDip Enhanced Clinical Practice and the “top-up” MA Health Care Practice.

Primary care includes registered nurses or registered midwives. To work in this area, you will need a degree in a relevant sexual health subject area.

Further information

• SRH Essentials for Primary Care
• CoSRH Diploma (DCSRH) - Diploma Information
• Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare - eLearning for healthcare
• University of South Wales: Postgraduate Diploma Sexual and Reproductive Medicine (Online Delivery) or MSc Sexual and Reproductive Medicine (Online Delivery)
• Wrexham Glyndwr University - Postgraduate diploma: Contraception, healthy relationships and healthy sexuality
• University of Greenwich: BSc Hons Professional Practice in Health and Social Care
• University of Greenwich: PGDip Enhanced Clinical Practice
• MA Health Care Practice (“top up” degree)
• Cervical screening – link above (this will link back to the content in the box marked Specialist Practice and Services)
• C Card training is available across the country through local education providers to support C-Card schemes; to provide young people (age 13 – 25) with sexual health support easy access to free contraception, education about sexual health and wellbeing.
• Confident with Medicine management, including Patient Group Direction (PGD)/ Patient Specific Direction framework
• Patient Specific Directions (PSDs) and Patient Group Directions (PGDs)
• Genito Urinary Medicine (GUM), Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) & HIV
  • STI Foundation Theory Course
  • STI Foundation Fundamental Competency
  • BASHH STI/HIV eLearning hosted on NHS eLearning for Healthcare.

Registered nurses or registered midwives can work in this area. It is recommended that they have a first-level degree in a relevant sexual health subject area.

• Cervical screening – link above (this will link back to the content in the box marked Specialist Practice and Services)
• Contraception – see above (this will link back to the content in the box marked Specialist Practice and Services)
• C Card training is available across the country through local education providers to support C-Card schemes; to provide young people (age 13 – 25) with sexual health support easy access to free contraception, education about sexual health and wellbeing
• Confident with Medicine management, including Patient Group Direction (PGD)/ Patient Specific Direction framework
• Genito Urinary Medicine (GUM), Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) & HIV
  • STI Foundation Theory Course
  • Sexual Health and HIV - elearning for healthcare
  • STI Foundation Gateway Plus Competency
  • STI Foundation Intermediate Competency
  • STI Foundation Theory Course
  • STI Foundation NHIVNA Intermediate: For nurses working in HIV settings and looking to progress to enhanced level practice. The STIF/NHIVNA Intermediate Competency leads to the Certificate of the STI Foundation - CSTIF (HIV) and is a common training route
  • STI Foundation Health Advising Competency: For nurses working in a Sexual Health Adviser role and looking to progress to enhanced level practice. The STI Foundation Sexual Health Advisor Competency leads to the Certificate of the STI Foundation - CSTIF (SHA) and is a common training route.
  • STI Foundation Intermediate Competency
  • HIV - STI Foundation NHIVNA Core 
  • Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare - elearning for healthcare.