This course is for professional nurses working in the Western Cape in Primary Care. It is a competency course that authorises the prescription of emergency management for victim-survivors of sexual offences.

If you are a PN working for WCG who has completed the Initial Management of All Victim-Survivors course:

Apply to enroll

About the course

  • Duration: It will take you approximately 2 hours to complete.

  • Eligibility for this course: Professional nurses working for Western Cape Government Health who have completed the Initial Management of All Victim-Survivors of Sexual Offences course.

  • Accreditation: WCDHW Nursing Accredited for 3 CPD points in Area of Practice.

  • Certification: Participants need 100% pass mark for final quiz.

  • Published: May 2024

Course curriculum

This course covers the following content:

1. Rational prescription of emergency management

  • Prescribe rationally following the assess, advise and treat approach in PACK
  • Essential elements of a prescription:
    • The basics
    • Facility details
    • Client details
    • Medication details
    • Prescriber details


2. Prevent STIs 

PART 1: Prevent HIV

  • Definitions and key points
  • Exposure to infectious fluids
  • The stepwise approach to providing HIV PEP, according to PACK
    • Step 1: Give exposed client immediate attention
    • Step 2: Assess client's need for HIV PEP and give immediately if ≤ 72 hours since exposure
      • First choice regimen: tenofovir 300mg + lamivudine 300mg + dolutegravir 50mg
      • Contraindications
      • Side effects
      • Medication interactions
      • Special considerations
    • Step 3: Take blood from exposed client
    • Step 4: Take blood from source, if possible and source consents
    • Step 5: Give hepatitis B PEP if needed 
    • Step 6: Continue to assess and manage the client


PART 2: Prevent hepatitis and other STIs

    • Prevent hepatitis B
      • Hepatitis prevalence in SA
      • General information
      • Hepatitis immunity and investigations
      • Hepatitis vaccine
        • Contraindications
        • When and how to give
        • Side effects
      • Hepatitis immunoglobin
      • Follow up
    • Prevent other STIs
      • Empirical prophylaxis regimen for other STIs
      • When to give and contraindications
      • Drug information: ceftriaxone, azithromycin and metronidazole
      • Side effects
      • Syphilis


3. Prevent pregnancy

  • What is emergency contraception?
  • What is the emergency contraception pill (ECP)
    • When to give
    • Contraindications
    • Efficacy
    • Generic name and instructions
    • Assess if a double dose is needed
    • Side effects
    • When to review


4. Prevent tetanus

  • General information
  • Tetanus vaccine
    • When to give
    • How to give
  • Activity: fill in prescriptions based on case examples


Western Cape Government Department of Health and Wellness
People Development Centre

Acknowledgements:

  • Knowledge Translation Unit