JPHC CE: Genital Examination of the Prepubertal Female: Essentials for Pediatric Nurse Practitioners
1.0 NAPNAP contact hour. This continuing education activity is offered free to NAPNAP Members. For non-members, this continuing education activity rate is $10. The gynecologic assessment in prepubertal children is an essential element of a thorough physical examination. It is not unusual for pediatric health care providers, including pediatric nurse practitioners (PNPs), to feel challenged by assessing for gynecologic signs and symptoms and performing a physical examination of the external genitalia in prepubertal girls (Bhoopatkar, Wearn, & Vnuk, 2017; Dabson, Magin, Heading, & Pond, 2014; McBain, Pullon, Garrett, & Hoare, 2016). The benefits of routine genital examinations have been discussed in the literature, including increasing patient and caregiver comfort with an examination, improved health care provider skill and confidence with examination and diagnostic assessment, providing a baseline for future examinations, and documentation of previously undiscovered anomalies (Johnson, 2002). This continuing education article will discuss genital examination preparation and techniques, normal prepubertal hymenal variants, common prepubertal gynecologic problems, and genital examination findings concerning abuse.
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Copyright 2022 © by National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
This continuing education activity is administered by the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP) as an Agency providing continuing education credit. Individuals who complete this program and earn a 70% or higher score on the post test will be awarded 1.0 NAPNAP contact hour.
Keywords: Prepubertal, genital examination, gynecologic
Target Audience
Pediatric-focused advanced practice registered nurses
Learning Objectives
1. Describe prepubertal genital examination preparation and techniques.
2. Discuss normal prepubertal hymenal variants.
3. Identify hymenal variants requiring referral to pediatric gynecology.
4. Discuss common prepubertal gynecologic problems.
5. Identify genital examination findings concerning for abuse/trauma
Gail Hornor, Forensic Nurse Specialist, International Association of Forensic Nurses, Hilliard, OH
Conflicts of interest: None to report
Correspondence: Gail Hornor, DNP, CPNP, SANE-P,
International Association of Forensic Nurses, Nationwide
Children’s Hospital, 4753 Britton Farms Dr., Hilliard, OH 43026;
e-mail: hornorgail@gmail.com
This continuing education activity is administered by the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP) as an Agency providing continuing education credit. Individuals who complete this program and earn a 70% or higher score on the post test will be awarded 1.0 NAPNAP contact hour.
Available Credit
- 1.00 Contact hours