Anybody work at an STI clinic?

klone, MSN, RN · Apr 17, 2017

I worked in a women's public health clinic for 4 years prior to my current job (it wasn't specifically an STI clinic, but it was an inner city public health clinic for a safety net organization that would see any patients, regardless of insurance). I LOVED LOVED LOVED it. Particularly learning about, and counseling teens/young women about, different contraceptive options.

quazar · Apr 17, 2017

I worked in a women's public health clinic for 4 years prior to my current job (it wasn't specifically an STI clinic, but it was an inner city public health clinic for a safety net organization that would see any patients, regardless of insurance). I LOVED LOVED LOVED it. Particularly learning about, and counseling teens/young women about, different contraceptive options.

That is exactly the kind of job I want.

Kooky Korky, BSN, RN · Apr 18, 2017

I know it may sound odd, but I really enjoy working with teens and at risk populations in the OB/GYN arena. There are some job openings in public health at the local STI clinics, and I'm toying with applying. I know that just being an RN, I won't really have as much of an impact as say if I were an APRN, but I wanted to know if anybody has ever worked in such an environment, and if so what was your experience like?

Why do you think it's odd? I think if that's what you want to do, do it. You can be of great help to many people who need help and kindness.

So why do you think it's odd?

quazar · Apr 18, 2017

Why do you think it's odd? I think if that's what you want to do, do it. You can be of great help to many people who need help and kindness.
So why do you think it's odd?

Because most people who are not OB nurses already screech about what I do being "gross," and they always talk about the dealing with STI aspect of it. When I talk to ED nurses, one of the things they mention hating to deal with the most in the ED seems to be any GYN/STI type case. I hear it all the time. Hence my disclaimer. OB people might not think it odd, but not only OB people read this section, kwim?

DolceVita, ADN, BSN, RN · Apr 18, 2017

Follow you bliss if you can. I have done teaching about STIs for the last three years and found it very rewarding. The research, preparing, taking questions, dispelling common myths -- completely fantastic. Most interesting one I have learned about? HPV.

Go for it.

DowntheRiver · Apr 18, 2017

I currently work in public health in the STD/Specialty Care area but also focus on Immunizations - a little bit of everything. It is very rewarding but also very shocking at times because people tend to not exactly understand even basic anatomy and thus have difficulty understanding why they are having genital issues. Like thinking they pee out of their lady parts, that you can't get pregnant (or STDs) if he pulls out - lots of education. In my neck of the woods, you're allowed to obtain clinician status, which means you get to see patients, perform pelvics/genital exams, counsel, and provide treatment off standing orders with ARNP/PA/MD oversight.