Many congratulations to Nurse Sarah Hickey MTU Cork Student Health Centre on qualifying as an Advanced Nurse Practitioner.
Sarah has been working in MTU Cork Student Medical Centre since 2017. She completed the Post Graduate Certificate in Sexual Health Advising at Staffordshire University in 2019, and the Nurse Prescribing Course (RNP) at RCSI in 2020. She completed her Masters in Nursing and Post Graduate Certificate in Advanced Practice at UCC, and is now a Registered Advanced Nurse Practitioner with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI). There are currently 21 RANPs in Primary Care/ General Practice in Ireland. Sarah is among the first RANPs in 3rd level Student Health, and is the first RANP to specialise in Student Sexual Health.
Advanced Nurse Practitioners practice at a higher level of capability as independent, autonomous and expert advanced practitioners. They have the competencies to be senior decision makers that undertake a comprehensive advanced assessment of patients with complex multiple healthcare needs. RANPs can prescribe medication, order diagnostic tests and interpret the results of multiple different assessments and investigations to make a diagnosis, and deliver complete episodes of care.
Sarah now plans to develop a fully Nurse-led Sexual Health/STI Screening Service for Students at MTU Cork, with RANP complete episodes of care from assessment, examination, diagnosis, treatment/nurse prescribing and follow up, including partner notification (PN) and sexual health advice, as well as delivering a contraception service.
Congratulations Sarah from the Irish Student Health Association on your outstanding achievements, leading the way as a Registered Advanced Nurse Practitioner in 3rd level Student Health, and as the first RANP in Student Sexual Health.