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Current Listing of Continuing Education Courses for Nurses
ANTICOAGULANTS (3 CEs)
Laura LaRue DNP, FNP-BC
Objectives
Upon completion of this CE learning module, participants will be able to:
- Review the use in clinical practice of antiplatelets, anticoagulants and non-vitamin k anticoagulants.
- Review the effect of Vitamin K on clotting factors in the liver.
- Assess data from key anticoagulation stroke prevention trials, including efficacy and safety of novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs).
- Review the pharmacology of antiplatelets, anticoagulants to include NOACs and their clinical relevance in evidence-based guidelines.
- Review possible ways to reverse bleeding of non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants (NOACs).
- Evaluate reasons for underuse of oral anticoagulants for stroke prevention in patients at thromboembolic risk.
- Apply proper anticoagulation dosing to ensure greater efficacy and safety for stroke prevention in patients at thromboembolic risk.
- Discuss strategies to manage bleeding events.
- Discuss use of these anticoagulant agents in patients with renal impairment.
Abstract
Thrombus causes most of cardiovascular diseases and deaths. Thrombus is the most common cause of three cardiovascular disorders to including ischemic heart disease (acute coronary syndrome), stroke and venous thromboembolism (VTE) (ISTH Steering Committee, 2014).
Thromboembolism deaths in the United States are estimated at 300,000 annually. According to the CDC in 2013, there was between 60,000 to 100,000 deaths from venous thrombus (CDC, 2015). The incidence nearly doubles in each decade of life over the age of 50. Individuals considered at high risk for blood clots include: trauma patients, surgical patients especially total knee replacement (TKR) and total hip replacement (THR), stroke patients, MI patients, spinal cord injury patients and metastatic cancer patients.
This continuing education will focus on common indicators for use of anticoagulants, antiplatelets and novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs). Another goal of this educational unit is to understand how clots are formed and how to treat clots appropriately.
PAIN MANAGEMENT (2 CEs)
Phyllis Whitehead, PhD, APRN, ACHPN, RN-BC
Objectives
Upon completion of this CE learning module, participants will be able to:
- Identify the prevalence of pain in the older adult.
- Describe the pathophysiology of pain in the older adult.
- Describe the presentation of pain in the older adult and its specific symptomatology.
- Describe when and how to assess for pain in the older adult.
- Identify risk factors for pain and their inclusion in the treatment plan.
- Discuss the importance of proper assessment and identification of pain as it pertains to the older adult.
- Delineate cultural differences when treating pain in the older adult.
- Identify strategies on how to provide proper pain management education for the older adult.
- Identify appropriate medication management for pain in the older adult.
- Describe medications that should be used with caution in older adults.
- Discuss when it is appropriate to use opioids in the older adult.
- Identify three non-pharmaceutical treatments for pain management.
- Describe integrated therapy for pain management.
- Identify barriers that may arise when teaching the older adult about proper pain management.
Abstract
Pain management is an essential component of caring for the older patient. Persistent pain affects over 100 million Americans which is more than the total number of adults affected by heart disease, cancer, and diabetes combined (IASP, 2011; IOM Blueprint, 2011). Unrelieved pain has significant impact upon the functional, cognitive, emotional and social domains of the older adult (Pautex, Herrmann, Le Lous, & Gold, 2009). Tailoring pain in the older patient is a multifaceted undertaking requiring a holistic approach that addresses physical, emotional, spiritual and social domains of the person. Since the nurses are often the first clinician to hear or observe a patient’s report of pain, it is crucial for nurses to perform a comprehensive pain assessment in the older adult (MacSorley, et al., 2014; Pasero & McCaffery, 2011). Nurses are pivotal to provide effective pain management that involves a multi-modal approach to treatment including pharmacological and psychological interventions.
CURRENT DIAGNOSIS AND THERAPEUTIC STRATEGIES FOR VAGINITIS
Marjorie Young, DNP, RN, IBCLC, FNP-BC
Objectives
At the completion of this continuing education module, the participant will be able to:
1. Discuss the pathophysiology of vaginitis.
2. Discuss the negative impact of vaginitis on health and quality of life.
3. Identify risk factors for developing vaginitis.
4. Describe the diagnostic techniques for vaginitis.
5. Identify and differentiate the most common types of vaginitis.
6. Describe the diagnostic strategies to differentiate between the different types of vaginitis.
7. Discuss current medication, complementary, and alternative therapies for vaginitis.
Abstract
Vaginal symptoms are one of the leading reasons that women seek medical care via their primary care provider, gynecologist, urgent care center, or emergency department. Self-diagnosis and treatment lead to inappropriate and under treatment of vaginal infections. The four most common causes of vaginitis consists of atopic vaginitis, bacterial vaginosis, candida vulvovaginitis, and trichomoniasis. The purpose of this module is to provide nurse practitioners with the current information on vaginitis consisting of the pathophysiology, symptomology, risk factors, negative health impacts, and diagnostic techniques along with strategies for treatment including medication, complementary and alternative therapies.
