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: ProMED-mail International Assoc. for Medical Assistance to Travellers (IAMAT) Immunization Action Coalition – IAC Express – 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)