Search Results

This course discusses medication administration practices for certified medication aides.

This course discusses safe practices for Medication Aides to prevent the spread of infection while administering medications to residents.

This course discusses the similarities and differences between medication allergies and side effects. Importance to patient safety is the main focus, and a thorough description is given of what allergies and side effects are, why it is important they be prevented, recognized, and treated early, and the nursing professional’s role in managing patients experiencing either. Diagnostic testing is discussed, and a case study wraps up the course to allow for practical application of the educational material.

This course discusses common medications given by medication aides, including their side effects, and provides information on allergic reactions.

This course discusses the Ohio Administrative Code and the Ohio Revised Code regarding medication aide standards of safe practice.

This course discusses the issues/topics of insulin, insulin administration, other injectable diabetes medications, and commonly used oral diabetes medications.

This course discusses CNA assistance with residents who are able to self-administer medication.

This course discusses the safe medication administration strategies and how to avoid medication errors to ensure patient safety in long-term care. This includes the five rights of medication administration, commonly used medication administration routes, proper medication preparation and documentation, high-alert medications, drug interactions, causes of medication errors and methods to prevent them.

This course discusses cultural competency in healthcare and important elements of culture. Specific definitions, models of care, and inclusive language are also discussed.

The purpose of this course is to provide information that may enable clinicians to decrease risks associated with older adults taking multiple medications. Ultimately, making pharmacological decisions that optimize the health of older adults with multiple medical problems requires thoughtful consideration, knowledge regarding drug effects and interactions, and individualized treatment plans.

This course discusses antipsychotic medications, including their mechanisms of action, receptor targets, and clinical indications across various psychiatric conditions such as anxiety, depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and psychosis. Participants will gain insight into standard dosing guidelines and routes of administration to optimize therapeutic outcomes. Special considerations for prescribing in older adults, individuals with hepatic or renal impairment, and during pregnancy and breastfeeding will be discussed to ensure safe and effective treatment. The course also covers common and serious side effects of antipsychotic medications, along with crucial safety precautions and contraindications.

This course discusses the issues/topics of insulin, insulin administration, other injectable diabetes medications, and commonly used oral diabetes medications.

This course discusses antipsychotic medications, including their mechanisms of action, receptor targets, and clinical indications across various psychiatric conditions such as anxiety, depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and psychosis. Participants will gain insight into standard dosing guidelines and routes of administration to optimize therapeutic outcomes. Special considerations for prescribing in older adults, individuals with hepatic or renal impairment, and during pregnancy and breastfeeding will be discussed to ensure safe and effective treatment. The course also covers common and serious side effects of antipsychotic medications, along with crucial safety precautions and contraindications.

This course discusses indications and recommendations for administering parenteral nutrition. The delivery of parenteral administration, including catheter types, is also discussed. The types of parenteral nutrition, including total nutrient admixture (TNA), peripheral parenteral nutrition (PPN), and total parenteral nutrition (TPN), and their complications are covered.

This course discusses the rights of medication administration, including the foundational rights of “right patient,” “right route,” “right time,” “right medication,” and “right dose.” It also discusses considerations for medication administration of special populations, such as the very young, the elderly, and pregnant women. Also discussed in this course are specific methods of IV administration, such as IV push, and recommended best practices.

This course offers suicide prevention training for healthcare professionals. Participants will learn how to screen, assess and manage suicidal thoughts, plans, and behaviors.

This course offers suicide prevention training for healthcare professionals. Participants will learn how to screen, assess and manage suicidal thoughts, plans, and behaviors.

This course hypertension, including its definition, pathophysiology, risk factors, diagnosis and evaluation, treatment options, and complications.

This course discusses the labeled uses, forms, and adverse effects of atypical antipsychotics. It also includes an explanation of long-acting injectable versions of atypical antipsychotics as well as the nursing considerations that must be kept in mind when caring for a patient being prescribed atypical antipsychotics.

This course discusses the use of diuretics in detail. It will cover all classes of diuretics to include their respective methods of action, intended effects, and side effects. In addition, this course will describe the nursing considerations and patient teaching that is necessary for patients prescribed diuretic medications.

This course discusses the overall clinical complexities of chronic respiratory diseases, including etiology, symptomology, and intervention options. Specific chronic respiratory diseases discussed include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, and pneumoconiosis.

This course discusses the overall clinical complexities of chronic respiratory diseases, including etiology, symptomology, and intervention options. Specific chronic respiratory diseases discussed include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, and pneumoconiosis.

This course discusses Rheumatoid Arthritis, its risk factors for development, diagnostic criteria, and available treatment options.

The use of the atypical antipsychotics is increasing, and off-label use is widespread. The atypical antipsychotics can cause serious adverse effects and administering them safely requires nurses to be aware of these adverse effects and to know the patient populations that are especially vulnerable.

This course discusses the use of diuretics in detail. It will cover all classes of diuretics to include their respective methods of action, intended effects, and side effects. In addition, this course will describe the nursing considerations and patient teaching that is necessary for patients prescribed diuretic medications.

This course hypertension, including its definition, pathophysiology, risk factors, diagnosis and evaluation, treatment options, and complications.

This course discusses Rheumatoid Arthritis, its risk factors for development, diagnostic criteria, and available treatment options.

There is no continuing education credit for this test; this is used by employers to evaluate your competence in pharmacology. You only have to take this test if you were instructed to by your employer.

This course discusses and provides a general overview of cardiac emergencies, including their etiology, pathophysiology, and management.

This course discusses and provides a general overview of cardiac emergencies, including their etiology, pathophysiology, and management.

Fungal infections, also known as mycoses, have increasingly become a significant concern nowadays. From superficial skin infections to life-threatening systemic diseases, fungi are unique organisms that require specialized therapeutic approaches. Antifungal drugs are the ones that kill fungi and help resolve a fungal infection. Antifungal drugs exert their therapeutic effects by targeting the unique structural components of fungi, which are chitin and ergosterol.

Nursing is known for its demanding nature, requiring long hours, emotional fortitude, and unwavering dedication. Similarly, parenting involves an all-consuming responsibility, necessitating constant attention, nurturing, and guidance. These two roles present a significant challenge, requiring individuals to manage competing priorities carefully.

Looking beyond the surface often requires time, effort, and insight, but as nurses and caregivers, this is our calling. We are responsible for providing the best patient care. Yet, when the topic of the liver’s enzyme system, commonly known as the cytochrome P450 (CYP450) system, comes up, it can feel overwhelming or too complex to engage with.

Beginning June 27, 2023, all Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)-registered practitioners are required to meet a one-time, eight-hour training requirement, focusing on treating and managing patients with opioid or other substance use disorders.

Polypharmacy, or taking multiple prescription medications to manage just one health issue, is becoming an epidemic in elderly patients.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration created a website to help health care providers treat patient infections effectively. The new approach is part of an effort to combat antimicrobial resistance, which is the ability of microbes to grow in the presence of a drug that would normally limit their growth. Acting as an aid for health care professionals who make prescribing decisions, the website will guide professionals to prevent the spread of resistant bacteria, which is one of the world’s most pressing public health issues. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the overuse of antibiotics is a preventable cause of increases in drug-resistant bacteria. Each time a patient takes antibiotics, sensitive bacteria are killed and the resistant ones remain and continue to multiply.

With all the sweet treats, scrumptious meals and holiday traditions that center around this precious time of the year, it’s tough to be conscious about maintaining an adequate weight and healthy lifestyle. Thankfully, with November as National Diabetes Month, we can re-focus our attention on the physical, emotional and social effects that impact more than 30 million people living in the United States with diabetes.

Have you ever been prescribed a medication that brought on unpleasant side effects? We’ve all been there, right? We’ve all experienced an upset stomach, diarrhea, dry mouth, excessive sleepiness, etc. at one point or another due to a prescribed medication. And although these side effects aren’t fun to have, they are usually quite common and are not life threatening. However, a true allergic reaction can be. So, it’s important to know the difference when assessing a patient’s health, as well as for your own personal safety.

The world of nursing is ever-changing, and recent events, such as the pandemic, have brought significant transformations within the medical field. These changes have underscored the importance of continuous learning for nurses. As healthcare professionals, we are always on a path of learning and growth, and maintaining our nursing license is a testament to our commitment to staying updated in our practice.

Nurses routinely encounter adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in their practice, requiring keen awareness of varied symptoms like skin rashes, gastrointestinal issues, or respiratory problems. Effective management of ADRs involves assessing, documenting, and potentially altering medication while providing appropriate care. Additionally, nurses educate patients and families about recognizing and responding to ADRs. Their role in reporting these reactions also contributes significantly to pharmacovigilance and ongoing drug safety evaluation.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), almost half the population of individuals living in the United States has hypertension, which comprises around 119.9 million people. If left untreated, it can lead to life-threatening conditions such as heart attack and stroke. Angiotensin-converting-enzyme (ACE) inhibitors help control blood pressure.

Morphine is a Schedule II opioid agonist. Clinically, it is used as an opioid analgesic for the relief of moderate to severe pain or acute and chronic pain. It is also used for analgesia during labor, pain due to myocardial infarction, dyspnea from pulmonary edema, and may be given in the form of Infumorph for managing intractable chronic pain.

Contraception is used to prevent a pregnancy. It can be done in various ways. However, a commonly used contraception method is contraceptive pill intake for women. According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), during the period 2015–2017 in a National Survey of Family Growth, the most common contraceptive methods used were female sterilization (18.6%), oral contraceptive pill (12.6%), long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) (10.3%), and male condom (8.7%).

Waiting to be seen two hours after arriving for my son’s follow-up visit, it’s dawning on me that we’re still here because of a medical error. I’ll start at the beginning of this story by sharing how easily medical errors happen and why they matter. My 13-year-old son, Scott (not his real name, but he’s given me permission to share our story), and I arrived for an appointment with his provider a few minutes early. We had a good idea about what to expect, even though it was only our second visit with this provider, who shares a waiting room and office space with another pediatric specialty.

Antidotes are an essential part of clinical practice. According to Drugs.com, “an antidote is a drug, chelating substance, or a chemical that counteracts (neutralizes) the effects of another drug or a poison.” Antidotes help treat the patient with an overdose or toxic use of a certain substance. However, antidotes are only helpful when the patient is being treated in a timely manner.

According to the National Cancer Institute, or NCI, drug abuse is defined as “the use of illegal drugs or the use of prescription or over-the-counter drugs for purposes other than those for which they are meant to be used, or in excessive amounts.” Substance abuse can occur with many different types of substances. Here in this blog, some of the most commonly abused drugs have been summarized, along with their street names, route of administration, effects of intoxication, and potential health consequences.

As people age, the risk of falls significantly increases, with statistics indicating that approximately one in four older adults experiences a fall each year. This alarming trend can lead to serious injuries and fractures, which may result in a decrease in mobility and independence. In fact, falls are the leading cause of fatal and nonfatal injuries among individuals aged 65 and older, accounting for more than 800,000 hospitalizations annually in the United States alone.

Nurses often work demanding schedules, including 12-hour shifts, night rotations, and mandatory overtime. These extensive hours can lead to chronic sleep deprivation, affecting both nurses and patients. Research indicates that over 55% of nurses experience sleep deprivation, resulting in fatigue-related errors, cognitive decline, and impaired decision-making. Sleep loss also increases the risk of burnout, anxiety, and serious health conditions such as cardiovascular disease.