Travel Health Core Competencies and Resources for Training

Travel Health: Core Competencies and Resources for Training Charlotte Katzin, R. N. , B. S. N. Nurse Manager, Allergy/Immunization Clinic Certificate in Travel Health™

Objectives • Describe five core competencies for pre-travel health providers • List resources for training, orientation, and continuing education for the travel health provider

Who Provides Pre-Travel Consults? • Professions & Practice Settings • Qualities • Training/Education

Competency TNA definition • Knowledge of standards • Interpersonal and Communication Skills • Ethical Reasoning • Problem Solving & Decision Making • Listening ability, honesty, self-knowledge of strengths & weaknesses, positive self-regard, emotional intelligence, and openness to feedback.

ANA Position Statement • Public’s right to expect competence • Competence is the shared responsibility of the – – – profession individual professional organizations credentialing entities regulatory agencies employers

Setting Standards International Society of Travel Medicine Certificate of Knowledge examination

Setting Standards Royal College of Nursing • Defines standards for: – competent nurse, – experienced/proficient nurse, and – a senior practitioner/expert nurse • Strong focus on the RN, but much of the information is equally applicable to other health care professionals, including MDs & pharmacists who provide travel health services. • Evidence of competency

Setting Standards Public Health Agency of Canada 14 Immunization Competencies Including: • • How vaccines work Storage & handling Administration & preparation Adverse events Documentation Special populations Informed consent, informed refusal Required, recommended, routine vaccine

Setting Standards American Travel Health Nurses Association (ATHNA) 17 Standards. Competencies are developed from the standards. • • • Assessment Planning Health Teaching and Health Promotion Education Evidence-Based Practice and Research Evaluation

Travel health is more than administering vaccines,

…food & water precautions,

…insect precautions,

…animal bite avoidance,

…accommodations,

…mode of transportation,

…activities,

…and staying up to date.

Resources • • • CDC Yellow Book CDC Travelers’ Health online CDC Pink Book WHO International Travel & Health Shoreland – Travel Clinic Operations Guide Healthmap. org International Society for Infectious Diseases: Pro. MED-mail International Assoc. for Medical Assistance to Travellers (IAMAT) Immunization Action Coalition – – IAC Express – Email News Ask The Experts Storage and Handling Summary of Recommendations

Resources • ISTM – Listserv – Journal of Travel Medicine – Global Travel Clinic Directory – Conferences and Courses • ATHNA – Courses & Conferences list – What’s News – Member Directory – Standing Orders – Newsletter

Travel Medicine for Dummies Thanks to Dr. David Smith and Dr. Jay Keystone, University of Toronto • • • Don’t get hit [traffic accidents and assaults] Don’t get bit [insects, animals, marine envenomation] Don’t get lit [ alcohol and other drugs] Don’t do “it” [sexual risk] Don’t eat shit [gastro precautions]

Charlotte Katzin, RN, BSN Nurse Manager, Allergy/Immunization Clinic University Health Services The University of Texas at Austin (512) 475 -8330 c. katzin@uhs. utexas. edu