How to perform a Papanicolaou Test ?

[natalia13]

Hello Nurses!

I have a question here:

I recently graduated as a Nurse. I just had my first interview and got the job on the spot, which is fantastic! it is a walkin clinic and a family doctor. The Doc informed me that he wants me to perform Pap tests. He is aware that i have never performed them and is going to teach me.

so my question here is How do i perform this? Is there any good websites, text that can educate me on this topic. I want to be well prepared when i have my first day of work.

Thank you for all the help

[oryxandcake]

In BC, one has to take the reproductive health/sti course to be certified. Following that, there are standards set that one needs to meet when practicing the procedure.

Considering how invasive the procedure is and how many people lack GPs- having nurses trained makes sense - and may encourage more people to have it done. It's not something you want to be rushed through.

[Fiona59]

NPs do the test in AB.

[CanuckLPN73]

Actually yes it is within a nurses scope. Im a PN student and on one of the CD's we had to watch the nurse does to a pap as it is considered part of the assessment...The CD was quite graphic...it was either Prentice Hall "Real Nursing Skills" Basic Nursing Skills or in the Physical & Health Assesment Skills (Prentice hall "Real Nursing Skills).

According to the CLPNA it is under a LPN's scope as well...pg 5...

http://www.clpna.com/Portals/0/Files/AB%20LPN%20Competency%20Profile%20-%20S-Clinic%20Based%20Nursing.pdf

However if you get a chance do check out the CD's from Prentice Hall...they do go into graphic detail doing a pap as well as a few other procedures which I found shocking!!

[Butterfliesnroses]

I'm from the US and am actually surprised it would be in the nurse's scope of practice. Maybe this is just b/c anytime I'd have a pap done it was by a NP or by a MD. Having an abnormal pap myself in the past I would only want a highly trained professional that KNEW how to do this. Cancer isn't something to mess around with and I woudln't want someone who'd just read a textbook and watch someone do the procedure "practice" on me.

[CanuckLPN73]

I'm from the US and am actually surprised it would be in the nurse's scope of practice. Maybe this is just b/c anytime I'd have a pap done it was by a NP or by a MD. Having an abnormal pap myself in the past I would only want a highly trained professional that KNEW how to do this. Cancer isn't something to mess around with and I woudln't want someone who'd just read a textbook and watch someone do the procedure "practice" on me.

RN's (BN's) and LPN's are professional and we are trained before we do any procedure :)

I did post that it is in the LPN scope however here is a link that it is in the RN's scope as well...

Competencies

[Fiona59]

I'm from the US and am actually surprised it would be in the nurse's scope of practice. Maybe this is just b/c anytime I'd have a pap done it was by a NP or by a MD. Having an abnormal pap myself in the past I would only want a highly trained professional that KNEW how to do this. Cancer isn't something to mess around with and I woudln't want someone who'd just read a textbook and watch someone do the procedure "practice" on me.

Uhm, it's the lab that determines if the PAP is abnormal.

As an old nurse once told me anyone can be shown/trained how to perform a test. It's how the results are interpreted that's important.

I'd also like to point out that nursing education is far different from the US. All RNs are required to be educated to the BScN. The two year diploma is the entry standard in AB and ONT. These provinces have the LPNs with the greatest scope of practice and patient care responsibility. Their PN education is based on the old diploma RN course.

Maybe this is the difference between Canadian and European healthcare, we are willing to let professionals do their job without everything being referred out to a specialist doctor.

[SandBetweenMyToes, BSN, RN]

I would phone the practice consultant at the CNO and ask that question directly. Nurse practitioners (RN ECs)are trained to do Pap tests. I have not heard of an RN doing them. Let the College of Nurses of Ontario be your guide, not us. It is your license and your liability after all.