National HIV Nurses Association

NHIVNA HIV Competencies:

Update on HIV Nursing Competencies
Introduction

Examples of competencies used in education and training

Nurse-led PEPSE Support - Presentation
Role of the Nurse in HIV Care - Presentation

Update on the NHIVNA National HIV Nursing Competencies

Application of the competencies in practice.

The competencies were launched in June 2007, almost 16 months ago. Since then there have been several HIV Nursing Journal editions dedicated to one competency theme and several presentations relating to competencies at the NHIVNA Conference in Glasgow in June 2008. As many readers will be aware the competencies have also driven the study day programme for the past year and feedback has been very positive. In view of this, we are currently planning to continue the competency theme for the study days for 2009.

We hear of some examples of the competencies being used in practice and will be placing some of these on the NHIVNA website in the near future. We are particularly interested in hearing from members who are applying the competencies to their clinical practice, job descriptions, teaching programmes and career planning, so we can broaden the scope and understand a little more about how the competencies are being utilised. So please contact us via jacqueline@mediscript.ltd.uk if you have examples of how you have implemented the competencies in your workplace and are happy to have these placed on the website.

When we reach the two year mark, we aim to formally audit the competencies on a national level and to update them accordingly possibly adding in competencies for healthcare assistant workers in HIV. We will keep you informed of this through the usual channels and as always, we welcome your contribution and feedback.

Eileen Nixon on behalf of the Competencies Sub Committee

Competencies Sub Committee
Eileen Nixon
Jane Bruton
Juliet Bennett
Helen Webb – in advisory capacity

Introduction

NHIVNA is pleased to announce the publication of the National HIV Nursing Competencies, a new document by the National HIV Nurses Association. The National HIV Nursing Competencies were developed through a wide consultation process and were launched at the 9th Annual Conference of the National HIV Nurses Association on 28 June 2007 in London. This tool is intended to:

Assess and guide nursing competence in the field of HIV care in the UK, and be utilised in the mapping and planning of HIV nursing careers.
Indicate the specific knowledge and skills required by individual nurses caring for people living with HIV/AIDS, thereby improving equity and quality of patient care.
Complement and be used alongside the NHS Knowledge and Skills Framework.
Be used at national network, service and individual levels.
The structure of the competencies is as follows:

Generic HIV Competencies

Specialist HIV Competencies

We appreciate your support in implementing these National HIV Nursing Competencies locally across your clinical areas where HIV patients are cared for. Microsoft Word versions of the competencies will be available to download shortly.

Competencies 2007 cover Download PDF File [1 MB]

The preparation and production of the competencies has been funded through a grant from the Department of Health.