Education

Nurses are at the forefront of menopause practice, especially in primary care, but few have completed any formal training to demonstrate their knowledge and competence. The Nursing and Midwifery (NMC) Code of Conduct highlights that you are personally accountable for your practice, regardless of direction from another professional and it is your own responsibility to ensure that your practice is competent.

Completing a recognised course does not ensure competence but enhances your knowledge and may help demonstrate a defined level of practice. It will also help you when considering the Knowledge and Skills Framework within Agenda for Change.

1. “Beyond Cancer – Living with an induced menopause”

Study day aimed at Oncology Nurses, open to all

Having cancer is stressful; the consequences after treatments are finished can be equally difficult to manage. Medication side effects, menopausal symptoms, anxiety about long term health, sexual difficulty, emotional lability – all contribute to women feeling under supported however good their cancer care was.

• Can you advise women about long term HRT, its safety and use in women after cancer?
• Do you prepare women prior to BRCA testing or risk reducing surgery about the impact of early menopause?
• Can you discuss the evidence for alternative treatments to manage symptoms?
• What is a woman’s experience of induced menopause?
• Do you shy away from the sex issues which might effect women after induced menopause?

2. “Choices at the Change” Menopause Study Days

Do you see women for smears, travel vaccinations, weight loss clinics and find yourself talking about menopause? Wish you had a better understanding of therapy choices ? Do you know what is normal, what is not? Want to understand how best to advise women?

These one day meetings are aimed at nurses who want an introduction to the impact of menopause on health and a better understanding of therapy and lifestyle options, including an HRT update.

A Certificate of Attendance will be issued.

This course is aimed at any nurse who want to develop a general knowledge and understanding of menopause its treatment options.

Ask your Clinical Commissioning Group/Practice Nurse Group to hold one local to you.
For more details email Kathy Abernethy – menopause@btinternet.com

3. Two Day Foundation Course

Developed in partnership with The Menopause Clinical and Research Unit, Northwick Park Hospital, Harrow, this two day course aims to provide nurses with a strong understanding and knowledge of issues relevant to menopause. This includes:

• Diagnosis and assessment – what is normal, what is not?
• An understanding of therapeutic options, hormonal, non hormonal and complementary.
• Nurse assessment, monitoring and prescribing.
• Practical case scenarios and care pathways
• Premature Ovarian Insufficiency
• Peri menopausal contraception
• Lifestyle interventions

A Certificate of Attendance will be issued on completion.

This course is aimed at:

• Practice Nurses
• Sexual Health Nurses
• Gynaecology Nurses
• Endocrinology Nurses
• Oncology Nurses
• Menopause Nurses
• Allied Health Professionals working in Women’s Health, such as pharmacists, dieticians, physiotherapists are also welcome.

4. Advanced course

The BMS is working with the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Health to offer the current special skills module in menopause for nurses as well as doctors.

The programme, aimed at advanced practitioners, requires attendance at an approved training course followed by practice based learning with a medical trainer achieving a ‘Certificate in Menopause Care’. It is anticipated that nurses will have already completed a Foundation Level course from any provider before doing this course or can demonstrate a higher level of practice through clinical experience.

Please contact admin@bms-whc.org.uk for further information and criteria.

For details of other opportunities for nurse education in menopause see www.themenopausecourse.com