Cervical Cytology – level 6

This course aims to provide you with the requisite knowledge and understanding of the role and function of the National Health Service (NHS) cervical screening programme, and the relevant skills and evidence base for your role as a cervical sampler.

The content of the module will provide you with an understanding of the rationale for cervical screening and general principles of screening in the United Kingdom.

There will be teaching on the skill of cervical sampling, including history-taking and infection control, as well as addressing the needs of women with special requirements

The course also identifies risk factors associated with cervical abnormalities and enables you to understand the natural history of cervical abnormalities and cervical cancer, whilst understanding the current and future developments related to cervical screening.

This module can be taken as a stand-alone module, for practitioners seeking to develop their skills in cervical screening or as part of a BSc Programme.

Who is it for?

This course is suitable for health care professionals who wish to become sample takers.

Timetable

Term 2

MAR: Monday 20, 21, 27 and 29 March 2023

Benefits

This course provides you with the requisite knowledge, understanding and skills required of cervical sample-takers.

Participants will be awarded 15 level 6 credits on successful completion of all assessments.

By the end of the course you will be able to:

Knowledge and understanding:

• To critically identify and appraise knowledge and understanding of the NHS cervical screening programme and its implementation locally.
• Critically appraise and justify the clinical management options for the treatment of cervical abnormalities and cervical cancer.
• Critically evaluate the outcomes of your practice within the general practice setting in relation to the cervical screening programme.
• Critically discuss the changes that occur in cells that are becoming cancerous.

Skills:

• Recognise and value the importance of self - audit and the requirement for continuous professional and personal development
• Critically appraise and recognise the importance of anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology in relation to cervical screening and cytology
• Critically evaluate and analyse how to achieve solutions based on an informed evidence base
• Critically analyse current research in relation to cervical screening
• Critically review and evaluate the relevant pathogenesis, risk factors and natural history associated with the development of cervical abnormalities and cervical cancer
• Develop skills in information retrieval and critical analysis
• Demonstrate the specific skills needed to develop competency in cervical sample taking.

Values and attitudes:

• Promote and develop concordant relationships with clients and their carers, with the aim of positively influencing their health choices and decisions.

The assessment is in 2 parts – both of which must be passed.

Part 1

Part 1 consists of three elements namely an Interim Assessment, Skills Schedule and a Final Clinical Assessment.

• You must observe at least two cervical smear samples being taken by your mentor (PHE, 2020)
• Once you have completed taking at least five cervical smear samples under the direct supervision of your mentor, you will need to undertake an Interim Assessment with your mentor (PHE, 2020)
• After completing and passing the Interim Assessment, you can then commence to undertake 20 cervical smear samples
• Your results of your 20 cervical smear samples must meet a true adequacy level of a minimum of 95% for all your results
• You then need to undertake a Final Clinical Assessment with an external assessor who cannot be your mentor and who will observe and assess you taking at least three cervical smear samples (PHE, 2020).
  
  Mentors and assessors can be one of the following:
• Registered nurse
• Registered midwife
• Registered physician associate
• General Medical Council registered medical doctor.

They must:

• be practising sample takers
• having at least 12 months continuous experience
• have undertaken a minimum of 50 samples following completion of initial training
• have effective communication skills and
• ideally hold a relevant mentoring and, or teaching qualification
  
  Additionally, the mentor and assessor must be able to show continuing competence in taking samples for cervical screening with particular reference to:
• equipment and sample preparation
• sampling technique
• transformation zone sampling
• audit of results and feedback from trainees
• must undertake a formal cervical screening update at least every three years

Part 2

Part 2 is an exam consisting of 10 multiple-choice questions. The exam will test the knowledge and theory from the content of the taught component of the module.

The submission date for (Part 1) will be Monday 19 September, 2022.

The date of the exam (Part 2) will be Monday 18 April, 2022.

Certificates

On successful completion of all assessments, you will be issued with a Certificate of Achievement.

Credits

This course is worth 15 credits toward eligible programmes.

Non-EEA students can only apply as part of a programme, not as a stand-alone module.

You must be registered in the United Kingdom as a health care professional with your professional body without restrictions on practice.

You must have an identified mentor and external assessor.

English requirements

If your first language is not English, one of the following is required:

• A first degree from a UK university
• A first degree from an overseas institution recognised by City, University of London as providing adequate evidence of proficiency in the English language, for example, from institutions from Australia, Canada or the United States of America.
• International English Language Test Service (IELTS) a score of 7.0 is required with no subtest below 7.0
• Pearson Test of English (Academic) score 72 required
• TOEFL 100 overall with 24 in Writing, 20 in Listening, 19 Reading and 20 Speaking
• Other evidence of proficiency in the English language, which satisfies the board of studies concerned, including registration with your professional regulator.