A novel educational and training program will provide nurse practitioners with competencies to prescribe antiretrovirals for HIV treatment and prevention

The BC-CfE announces a new training program to support BC nurse practitioners to prescribe antiretrovirals (ARVs) for HIV prevention and treatment, as part of the Treatment as Prevention¨ strategy

The BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS (BC-CfE) is pleased to announce an educational initiative that will expand the role of nurse practitioners in British Columbia as antiretroviral prescribers for HIV prevention and treatment. This program is expected to launch this fall.

Nurse practitioners have been an integral part of the Treatment as Prevention¨ (TasP¨) strategy, which forms the foundation of the UNAIDS 90-90-90 Target to end AIDS globally by 2030. The BC-CfE and the College of Registered Nurses of BC are working together to expand the role of nurse practitioners to close the gaps in accessing HIV prevention and treatment, particularly among key populations in underserved areas.

Our collective aim is to improve access to ARV treatment and HIV prevention strategies, e.g. PrEP and PEP, for people living with HIV or at risk of acquiring HIV within remote and rural areas and underserved groups. This will help to improve quality of life and longevity for more people living with HIV in British Columbia, while also increasing the provincial capacity to prevent new HIV infections.

The new BC-CfE nurse practitioner training program will launch in two tiers:

1. Treatment for HIV prevention, to include post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), and
2. Treatment for people living with HIV, to include initiation and management of antiretroviral therapy.

Tier 1: Treatment for HIV Prevention for BC Nurse Practitioners (PEP/PrEP prescribing)

This program will launch this fall on the heels of the introduction of no-cost PrEP coverage in BC for individuals at high risk of HIV infection and the expanded coverage of PEP.

Upon successful completion of the Treatment for HIV Prevention program, nurse practitioners will have the competencies to prescribe PEP and PrEP. Successful completion of the program involves:

• Completion of the BC-CfE online course, HIV Prevention (to be updated September 2018),
• Knowledge and comprehension of the BC-CfE recommended prescribing guidelines on PEP and PrEP, and
• An online evaluation to assess skills and competency based on these learnings.

The program can be completed on a flexible timeline and is accessible to BC nurse practitioners regardless of their location in the province.

Would you like to be notified when the Treatment for HIV Prevention program launches? Stay in the loop by signing up for email updates from the BC-CfE’s Education and Training Program. You can also follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Tier 2: Treatment for People Living with HIV for BC Nurse Practitioners (ARV prescribing)

The second component, Treatment for People Living with HIV, is focused on the prescribing of ARVs and will launch in late spring 2019. Successful completion will consist of:

• Completion of the BC-CfE HIV Diagnosis and Management online course (available now),
• Participation in the Intensive Preceptorship Training in HIV/AIDS (available now; offered on site at St. Paul’s Hospital, Vancouver),
• Completion of the BC-CfE HIV Treatment online course (available early spring 2019),
• Knowledge and comprehension of the BC-CfE Primary Care and Therapeutic Guidelines (to be updated Fall 2018),
• Participation in the BC-CfE HIV Community of Practice Mentorship Forum, and
• An online evaluation to assess skills and competency based on these learnings.

This program will require attendance in the Intensive Preceptorship Training in HIV/AIDS, offered at St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver. Contact your Health Authority or employer to register for the Intensive Preceptorship Training program.

Get program announcements and updates on registration availability for Treatment for People Living with HIV by signing up for email updates from the BC-CfE’s Education and Training Program. You can also follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Program Requirements: Tier 1 and Tier 2 are offered through the BC-CfE to nurse practitioners with practicing registration in BC who have been recommended to the program by their employer or a provincial health authority. Applicants must meet at least one of the following requirements:

• Selected to or are already working with a significant at-risk population for HIV (e.g., people who inject drugs, men who have sex with men);
• Employed in practices or clinics without an HIV prescribing physician on site; or
• Employed in remote rural areas.

Please note: Spaces are limited for the BC-CfE’s Intensive Preceptorship Training (required for the Treatment for People Living with HIV program). Candidates will be prioritized according to the program requirements above. It is recommended candidates register for the Intensive Preceptorship as early as possible to accommodate those interested. For more information, please contact education@bccfe.ca.