Nurse colposcopy service

Overview

Initiative type

Model of Care

Status

Deliver

Published

21 August 2019

Summary

Gold Coast Health has one colposcopy nurse, but with the increase in referrals to the colposcopy clinic we needed to increase our nurse colposcopy capacity. There are no training programs in Australia for nurse colposcopy. Over 2018/19 a Nurse Practitioner is being trained to perform colposcopy and LETZ procedures. The existing colposcopy nurse and medical staff at Gold Coast Health are training the nurse practitioner using an internationally approved training and accreditation program.

The project has successfully navigated healthcare system challenges to deliver change, improvement and innovation in the health service and has presented at the Clinical Excellence Queensland Showcase 2019.

Key dates

Oct 2018

Partnerships

Key stakeholders engaged with the project included:

  • The Professor of nursing and the nursing credentialing team
  • Specialist Gynaecology staff and Gynaecology Oncology staff
  • Colposcopy clinic staff
  • Divisional finance team
  • Divisional executive team

Aim

To test a training program for colposcopy nurses in the Australian context in order to expand the nurse colposcopy model of care.

Benefits

The colposcopy nurse program has high potential for scale and spread. The colposcopy nurse is well accepted by the clients, can perform colposcopy very efficiently, has a high rate of operator reliability and is a more cost-effective program than specialist only colposcopy services.

Background

Colposcopy is the procedure undertaken to detect cancers after a woman returns an abnormal pap smear. With the introduction of the new, more sensitive HPV test in December, experts are predicting more women will need to undergo a colposcopy.

Solutions implemented

The Colposcopy Nurse training program has been successful in the development of a model of care for nurse colposcopy, a nurse colposcopy training program and a nurse colposcopy credentialing process.

Evaluation and results

Patient satisfaction surveys demonstrate excellent patient satisfaction with the colposcopy service. Histology audits demonstrate a very high rate of operator reliability. A low rate of clients needing subsequent appointments with a medial specialist.

Lessons learnt

The difficulty changing a predominantly medical model of care to a nursing model and encountering some reluctance and scepticism from more traditional operators. Lessons included making sure the patient safety and satisfaction audits were shared with the team to demonstrate the safety, efficiency and acceptability of the service.

References

Todd RW, Wilson S, Etherington I, Luesley D. Effect of Nurse Colposcopists on a hospital based service. Hosp Med 2002; 63 (4): 218-23

Swanatt DR, Greenfield SM, Wilson S. Women’s Colposcopy Experience and Preferences:Mixed Methods Study. BMC Womens Health 2008; 8(1): 2

Key contact

Hazel Brittain

Nursing-Midwifery Director

Gold Coast Health

Email:  Hazel.Brittain@health.qld.gov.au

Last updated: April 2025

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