Empowered Care: Navigating Vaginal Infections and the Nurse's Role

The nurse has important role in early case finding through assessment of the risk factors, history taking and clinical assessment. The history concerning risk factors and the discharge are obtained from the patient, after which a clinical examination, usually a speculum examination is carried out. The genitalia is inspected, as well as color and odor of discharge. The initial diagnosis of the causative organism is made according to the specific characteristics associated with the different organisms. Nurses had a critical role in identifying woman complaining of abnormal vaginal discharge, assisting in the prevention of gynecologic infection in addition to ensuring the patient adherence with the suggesting clinical examination and treatment, finding out of unhygienic practices and determining the appropriate technique of practice. Furthermore, nurses can assist in managing vaginal infection through providing of health education in order to modify the health behavior and to prevent the occurrence as well as the recurrence of vaginal infection.