Abstract

Nurses have been involved in the management of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) well before the era of Florence Nightingale. Their role has varied from that of the technician, almoner, counsellor, and doctor’s assistant, to one in which they are able to provide first line management of STIs in nurse led clinics. However, changes to the role of the nurse have not been entirely through choice. It appears that nurses have often been called upon in times of crisis and need—their role often evolving only through demand for services and personnel. Barriers to developing the role of the nurse continue to exist as we move into the 21st century. From Lock hospitals to specialised genitourinary medicine clinics, this historical review looks at how the role of the nurse has evolved over the past 150 years and suggests how past lessons can help enhance the contribution nurses will make to the future of STI management and control.