Learning, always learning

I know I've said this before, but I'm always learning.  Whether it is in my clinical rotation, or at my L&D RN position, I always learn something new.  Always.

This week, I had my first day with a second midwife for clinicals.  I learned so much!

1. I like electronic medical records.  Especially when the program is very user friendly.
2. I like doing annual GYN exams.  You meet a lot of very interesting and diverse women/clients.
3. How to remove an IUD
4. That a lot of women use birth control pills for birth control.  A LOT.
5. Speaking of birth control pills, I have so much to learn about them.  So many different types, dosages, names, uses.
6. Don't be afraid to kneel on the floor to find a cervix during a speculum exam (words of wisdom from an MD friend).
7. It is definitely possible to do a thorough H&P in less than 10-15 minutes.
8. Electronic prescription programs are da bomb!  Click, click, send!
9. There is more than one way to skin a cat (figuratively, not literally).

I truly cannot wait to go back and learn more!

Cervical cancer screening (also known as "the dreaded pap smear")

How often do you have screening for cervical cancer (a.k.a. PAP test or HPV testing)?

I used to be an annual screening with PAP/HPV testing {I am pretty sure it's called ThinPrep that my NP uses}. I have slacked off in recent years with annual testing, because mine have been normal.

The latest recommendations:

"The current guidelines published by the American Cancer Society and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommend that for women 30 years of age or older, providers use a combination of 2 tests to screen for cervical cancer: the Papanicolaou test and the HPV cotest.

If the results of the 2 tests come back normal, recommendations say the women can wait 3 years before being retested."

That is a direct quote from Medscape.com.

The article does go on to say that most providers still advocate annual screening for cervical cancer, even in women who meet the parameters to test every three years.

What do *YOU* do for your cervical cancer screening?