| Adult Immunization-A Guide to Safe Immunization Practices |
- List the recommendations for administration of the vaccines discussed in this article.
- Describe the difference between live attenuated vaccines and those that are not live vaccines.
- Discuss the complications that can occur after vaccine administration including local reactions, systemic reactions, anaphylaxis, and Guillain-Barre Syndrome.
- Explain how to manage vaccine complications and what should be documented in the record and reported to the Vaccine Adverse Event Report System.
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| Expires: 11/30/2010 |
| Amniocentesis |
- Describe how the amniocentesis procedure has changed over the years and the best approach currently for performing the procedure to minimize complications.
- Explain the various risks and complications associated with amniocentesis.
- Explain the significance of brown colored fluid that may be obtained at the time of genetic amniocentesis and the use of amniocentesis in Rh negative women.
- Describe how intra-amniotic bleeding that can occur at the amniocentesis site, may appear sonographically.
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| Expires: 4/30/2010 |
| Anencephaly |
- Discuss the incidence of anencephaly and the theories behind its development.
- Discuss the ultrasound appearance of anencephaly and other anomalies associated with this congenital defect.
- Describe the psychological adaptation that couples experience once this diagnosis is made.
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| Expires: 4/30/2010 |
| Anti-infective Drug Use in Obstetrics - Part I |
- Discuss the important background information regarding the use of drugs in pregnancy, such as reproduction studies in animals, timing in gestation, and the pharmacokinetics of the drug.
- Describe which antibiotics (penicillins, cephalosporins, aminoglycosides, fluoroquinolones, macrolides, tetracyclines, aztreonam, and chloramphenicol), based on available information, are considered safe for use in pregnancy.
- Describe which antibiotics (listed in number 2) have the potential for causing harm to the fetus and or newborn if used during pregnancy or lactation.
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| Expires: 4/30/2010 |
| Anti-infective Drug Use in Obstetrics - Part II |
- Describe the potential concerns for using clindamycin, imipenem-cilastatin, meropenem, metronidazole, spectinomycin, and vancomycin during pregnancy or lactation.
- Discuss the potential concerns of using sulfonamide drugs, nitrofurantoin, or trimethoprim during pregnancy or lactation.
- Describe the potential concerns of using certain amebicide drugs and anti-malarial agents during pregnancy or lactation.
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| Expires: 4/30/2010 |
| Anti-infective Drug Use in Obstetrics - Part III |
- Describe the potential concerns of using certain anti-helminthic drugs and anti-fungal agents during pregnancy or lactation.
- Discuss the potential concerns of using pentamidine during pregnancy or lactation.
- Describe the potential concerns of using the various anti-tuberculosis drugs during pregnancy or lactation.
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| Expires: 4/30/2010 |
| Anti-infective Drug Use in Obstetrics - Part IV |
- Describe the potential concerns of using leprostatic agents (clofazimine and dapsone) during pregnancy or lactation.
- Discuss the potential concerns of using certain antiviral drugs during pregnancy or lactation.
- Discuss the potential concerns of using anti-retroviral agents (drugs for treating HIV) during pregnancy or lactation.
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| Expires: 4/30/2010 |
| Breast Cancer Screening |
- Define the risk factors that may lead to an increase in risk for developing breast cancer.
- Discuss the importance of screening, who should be screened, and when screening should occur.
- Describe the different techniques that might be used (now and in the future) for detecting breast cancer including mammography, digital mammography, magnetic resonance imaging, and positron emission tomography.
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| Expires: 10/31/2010 |
| Caring for Patients with Limited English Proficiency |
- Describe how the ethnic population of the United States will change in the next 25 years.
- Explain how home care nurses can develop culturally appropriate verbal and non-verbal communication competency/skills.
- Identify available options for selecting an interpreter and identify violations to patient federal and civil rights.
- Incorporate new skills into their communication with patients and interpreters.
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| Expires: 10/31/2010 |
| Congenital Hydrocephalus and Ventriculomegaly |
- Discuss the incidence and definition of hydrocephalus and ventriculomegaly, and how cerebral spinal fluid is formed, its flow, and its reabsorption.
- Describe how the ventricles can grow to an abnormal size and the three major types of hydrocephalus.
- Discuss the ultrasound findings and potential methods for making a diagnosis of hydrocephalus / ventriculomegaly.
- Discuss the prognosis and some of the management options that may be utilized once the diagnosis is made.
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| Expires: 4/30/2010 |
| Diabetes Control in Pregnancy - Part I |
- Discuss the different classifications of diabetes and the complications that may be seen in the pregnant diabetic, especially if poorly controlled.
- Explain how blood sugar values are determined and how to prepare insulin for infusion.
- Calculate the C/I (calorie to insulin) ratio and the initial intravenous insulin infusion rates for patients who are
NPO.
- Calculate the initial intravenous insulin infusion rates for those patients who are on an ADA diet or are being converted to a diet after being NPO.
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| Expires: 4/30/2010 |
| Diabetes Control in Pregnancy - Part II |
- Calculate the conversion of intravenous insulin infusion therapy to subcutaneous insulin doses.
- Discuss the outpatient control of the pregnant diabetic and which insulin dose and blood sugar value is associated to a given meal.
- Describe the effect that corticosteroid drugs or beta-sympathomimetic agents have on blood sugar control.
- Discuss hypoglycemic reactions and the various methods by which this problem can be managed if and when it occurs.
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| Expires: 4/30/2010 |
| Eating Disorders - Part I - Prevalence and Screening of Teens |
- Discuss the causative factors associated with eating disorders.
- Describe the warning signs and behavioral evidence that can be seen in teens that are at risk for eating disorders.
- Describe the components of screening for eating disorders and how to calculate an approximate ideal body weight.
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| Expires: 10/31/2010 |
| Eating Disorders - Part II - Diagnosis and Treatment of Teens |
- Discuss the diagnostic criteria and differential diagnosis for anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating/compulsive overeating.
- Describe the medical complications that can be seen with anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating/compulsive overeating.
- Explain the components of assessing and treating anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating/compulsive overeating.
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| Expires: 10/31/2010 |
| Eating Disorders - Part III - Athletes |
- Describe the factors associated with athletes that can promote eating disorders.
- Explain the difference between eating disorders and disordered eating.
- Discuss the female athlete triad and the significance of amenorrhea and osteoporosis.
- Explain the differences and similarities between the male and the female athlete with an eating disorder.
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| Expires: 10/31/2010 |
| FDA Recommendations for the Safe Use of Ultrasound in Obstetrics |
- Define thermal index, mechanical index, absorption coefficient, spatial-peak temporal-average, and spatial-peak pulse-average.
- State the United States Food and Drug Administration, American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine, and American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology recommendations for safety levels in obstetrical ultrasound.
- Describe the methods that can be used to minimize fetal exposure during obstetrical ultrasound.
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| Expires: 4/30/2010 |
| Female Patient in Pain - The Evaluation |
- Describe the differential diagnosis for a female patient that presents with pelvic pain.
- Explain how ultrasound can be useful in diagnosing some of the different causes for pelvic pain.
- Discuss some of the "pitfalls" that can be encountered when evaluating patients who present with pelvic pain.
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| Expires: 4/30/2010 |
| First, We Must Do No Harm: Medical/Clinical Errors and Patient/Client Saftey |
- Explain what medical errors constitute and how they impact the Nation and the public’s perception of healthcare.
- Discuss the aspects of the "speak-up" program that has been developed and promoted by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO).
- Describe the National Patient Safety Goals that institutions need to implement and follow.
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| Expires: 10/31/2010 |
| Hepatitis A - Update and an Overview of Viral Hepatitis |
- Describe the differential for liver disorders seen in medicine and list some of the drugs and toxins that can produce liver dysfunction.
- Discuss the impact of Hepatitis A infections on healthcare and the diagnostic work-up of the patient infected with this virus.
- Describe the different ways in which the Hepatitis A virus can be transmitted between adults as well as children.
- Discuss the potential treatment options for Hepatitis A, the effectiveness of immunoprophylaxis, and recommendations for immunoprophylaxis.
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| Expires: 7/31/2010 |
| Hepatitis B - Update |
- Discuss the impact of Hepatitis B infections on healthcare and the diagnostic work-up of the patient infected with this virus.
- Describe the different ways in which the Hepatitis B virus can be transmitted between adults and to children through perinatal transmission and breastfeeding.
- Discuss the effectiveness of and recommendations for immunoprophylaxis against Hepatitis B and the potential treatment options for chronic infections.
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| Expires: 6/30/2010 |
| Hepatitis C - Update |
- Discuss the potential clinical impact of Hepatitis C infections and how patients are diagnosed and followed-up.
- Describe the different ways in which the Hepatitis C virus can be transmitted between adults and to children through perinatal transmission and breastfeeding.
- Discuss the potential treatment options for Hepatitis C infected individuals, the limitations of treatment, and the potential for an effective future vaccine or immunoglobulin.
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| Expires: 6/30/2010 |
| Hepatitis D and E |
- Discuss the potential clinical impact of Hepatitis D and Hepatitis E infections and how patients are diagnosed.
- Describe how Hepatitis D and Hepatitis E are transmitted and discuss the effects of these viral infections on pregnancy and the risk of vertical transmission.
- Discuss the current treatment options for Hepatitis D and Hepatitis E infected individuals, the limitations of treatment, and the potential for future prevention.
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| Expires: 7/31/2010 |
| Hepatitis G, Hepatitis TT and Hepatitis Non-A,B,C,D,E,G,TT |
- Describe the route of transmission, the prevalence, and the potential significance of hepatitis G.
- Describe the route of transmission, the prevalence, and the potential significance of hepatitis
TT.
- Discuss the possible causes for hepatitis other than hepatitis A through G and TT.
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| Expires: 6/30/2010 |
| Herbal Medications - Issues Related To Their Use - Part I |
- Explain when, why, and by how much the use of herbal products by Americans increased in the United States.
- Describe the proposed mechanisms of action for the herbal products reviewed in this article and the primary reason why people use them.
- Discuss which herbal products reviewed in this article should be used with caution in patients with hypertension, epilepsy, and immune disorders, and in those taking certain medications.
- Discuss which herbal products reviewed in this article should not be used prior to surgery, near delivery by pregnant women, or in conjunction with other drugs that may decrease the ability of blood to clot.
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| Expires: 7/31/2010 |
| Herbal Medications - Issues Related To Their Use - Part II |
- Describe the primary reason for usage and the proposed mechanism of action for Saw Palmetto, Kava Kava, Grape Seed, Cranberry, Valerian Root, Evening Primrose, and Milk Thistle.
- Discuss which herbal products (reviewed in this article) should be used with caution in patients with multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, and epilepsy.
- State the potential for a drug / herb interaction in those individuals taking certain medications in conjunction with the herbal products discussed in this article.
- Discuss which herbal products (reviewed in this article) should not be used prior to receiving anesthesia and should be avoided by pregnant women.
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| Expires: 4/30/2010 |
| Herbal Medications - Issues Related To Their Use - Part III |
- Describe the primary reason for usage and the proposed mechanism of action for Black Cohosh, Chamomile, Ma Huang, Thyme, Iodides, herbal Quinine, and herbal Belladonna drugs.
- Discuss which herbal products reviewed in this article that should be used with caution in patients with hypertension, cardiac disorders, diabetes, a predisposition for developing kidney stones, glaucoma, and emphysema.
- State the potential for a drug / herb interaction in those individuals taking certain medications in conjunction with the herbal products discussed in this article.
- Discuss which herbal products / natural remedies reviewed in this article that should be avoided by pregnant women.
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| Expires: 4/30/2010 |
| Infection Prevention – Is it in Our Hands? |
- Discuss the importance of handwashing and its effect on the transmission of nosocomial infections.
- Explain the significance of fingernails (artificial or natural) and their potential role in transmitting infection.
- Describe the Center’s for Disease Control’s and other national group’s recommendations regarding hand hygiene.
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| Expires: 10/31/2010 |
| Intimate Partner Violence-Evidence Collection and Documentation for Home Care Clinicians |
- Describe how evidence should be collected and documented when dealing with intimate partner violence.
- List the dos and don’ts of asking questions when evaluating a victim of intimate partner violence.
- Discuss the importance of confidentiality and ensuring privacy.
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| Expires: 11/30/2010 |
| Media Literacy and Teen Health Education |
- Discuss media literacy and how messages from the media and other sources influence health behavior.
- Describe the adverse health effects of the media and its advertisements and their impact on teen body image.
- Develop interventions for teen health education by being media literate.
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| Expires: 10/31/2010 |
| Neonatal Chest Imaging - What the Nurse Should Know |
- Describe a good technique for positioning a neonate for the purpose of obtaining a chest radiograph, which will allow serial exams to be compared without compensating for changes in rotation.
- Describe the desired locations for the various tubes and lines that are placed during the newborns intensive care stay.
- Explain the appearance of some of the more common neonatal chest abnormalities, such as hyaline membrane disease, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, pulmonary hypoplasia and congenital diaphragmatic hernia.
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| Expires: 4/30/2010 |
| Omalizumab (Xolair) for Allergy-Induced Asthma |
- Discuss the significance of asthma as a healthcare disorder.
- Explain the relationship of IgE to the symptoms that are seen in patients with an allergic response.
- Describe the mechanism of action of omalizumab (Xolair), the dosing, the administration, and the required injection technique.
- Describe the findings in the clinical trials, the identified side effects, and how patient education for using omalizumab (Xolair) should occur.
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| Expires: 10/31/2010 |
| Osteoporosis - The Importance of Screening |
- Describe the basic structure of bone and the cells and hormones involved in bone construction and remodeling.
- Explain what the risk factors are developing osteoporosis and the impact of this disorder on the healthcare system.
- Discuss the symptoms seen when osteoporosis occurs, the effectiveness of available diagnostic modalities, and the current potential treatment options.
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| Expires: 4/30/2010 |
| Over-the-Counter Antihistamines Drugs - Issues Related to Their Use |
- List the medical conditions for which over-the-counter (OTC) antihistamine usage should be avoided or used only after consulting with a healthcare provider.
- Discuss the types of medications in which drug interactions may occur and the common side effects seen with OTC antihistamine usage.
- Describe how the OTC antihistamine drugs work and the differences between H-1 and H-2 receptors.
- List the currently available Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved OTC antihistamines and describe some of the differences between these active ingredients, their anticholinergic effects, and use as nighttime sleep-aids.
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| Expires: 6/30/2010 |
| Over-the-Counter Decongestant Drugs - Issues Related to Their Use |
- List the medical conditions for which over-the-counter (OTC) decongestant drug usage should be avoided or used only after consulting with a healthcare provider.
- Discuss the types of medications in which drug interactions may occur and the common side effects seen with decongestant usage.
- List the currently available Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved OTC decongestants and describe some of the differences between these active ingredients and the meaning of "rebound congestion" and "mirror image" drugs.
- Describe the alpha-adrenergic and beta-adrenergic effects of OTC decongestants and the potential warnings for usage in pregnancy.
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| Expires: 6/30/2010 |
| Percutaneous Biopsy of the Breast |
- Describe the pros and cons of surgical biopsy and the reasoning behind the development of image-guided procedures.
- Discuss the advantages and limitations of ultrasound guided biopsy, stereotactic guided biopsy, fine needle aspiration biopsy, core needle biopsy, and vacuum assisted suction devices.
- Explain the importance of concordance between the clinical impression and the pathology findings.
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| Expires: 4/30/2010 |
| Peripheral Vascular Disease of the Lower Extremity |
- Explain the difference between claudication and ischemia.
- Describe the basic anatomy of the arterial tree as it branches off the aortic arch and the abdominal aorta.
- Compare and contrast the risks and benefits of angiography and identify in which patients the procedure is contraindicated.
- Describe the types of disorders encountered in the lower extremities of patients who demonstrate peripheral vascular disease.
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| Expires: 4/30/2010 |
| Radiology Procedures in Pregnancy |
- Discuss the potential risks of radiation exposure (x-ray usage) during pregnancy and the time period of most concern for these procedures.
- Define the limits of ultrasound energy output that is recommended for use in pregnancy and explain the various ways in which magnetic resonance might be used.
- Describe the types of nuclear medicine studies that might be utilized in women of childbearing age and the limitations that should be observed.
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| Expires: 4/30/2010 |
| Respiratory Syncytial Virus |
- Discuss the impact of and pathophysiology of a respiratory syncytial virus infection.
- Describe the transmission of respiratory syncytial virus, its clinical presentation, and prevention.
- Discuss how to diagnose a respiratory syncytial virus infection and the various treatment options that are currently available.
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| Expires: 8/31/2010 |
| Restless Leg Syndrome |
- Describe the three different categories of restless legs syndrome.
- Explain the main symptoms of restless legs syndrome and how to make the diagnosis
- Discuss the differential diagnosis and the various treatment options for restless legs syndrome.
- Describe the overall prognosis of restless legs syndrome and the potential side effects of some of the medications used in treatment.
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| Expires: 10/31/2010 |
| Risk Management: Patient Safety and Patient-Centered Care |
- Describe the different levels of medical errors that can occur.
- Define ways in which the number of medical errors can be reduced.
- Discuss how errors should be handled with respect to the patient and family members.
- Explain how patient-centered care can improve the overall healthcare system and reduce costs.
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| Expires: 11/30/2010 |
| Substance Abuse and the Healthcare Worker - An Update |
- Discuss the impact that alcohol and drug abuse by a healthcare worker has on the medical profession and the potential legal implications that are involved.
- Recognize the physical, behavioral, and job performance traits commonly seen with substance abuse.
- Describe the complications related to the major categories of commonly abused drugs and be able to recognize their common street names.
- Explain the steps that should be taken when dealing with a healthcare coworker who is demonstrating signs of alcohol and or substance abuse.
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| Expires: 4/30/2010 |
| Suicide in Teenagers |
- Define the significant statistical issues that surround teen suicide.
- Discuss the traditional and non-traditional risk factors that are associated with teen suicide.
- Describe the potential intervention strategies for preventing teen suicide and the National Objectives for Gate Keepers.
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| Expires: 10/31/2010 |
| Trisomy 18 |
- Explain the normal chromosomal composition of humans.
- Discuss what trisomy 18 is, the etiology behind its development, and its overall prognosis.
- Describe the ultrasound findings that may be detected, if present, in a fetus with trisomy 18.
- Discuss the prenatal diagnostic tests that are available for screening and how a definitive diagnosis is obtained.
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| Expires: 4/30/2010 |
| Trisomy 21 |
- Explain what trisomy 21 is, the etiology behind its development, and its overall prognosis.
- Discuss what is normal regarding the chromosomal makeup of humans.
- Describe what prenatal diagnostic tools are available for screening as well as what is currently necessary in making a definitive diagnosis.
- Describe the ultrasound findings that may be present and detectable in a fetus with trisomy 21.
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| Expires: 4/30/2010 |