Since the 1980's, palliative care programs have become more available in the United States and have received more focus in health care settings. Nursing professionals benefit from understanding the benefits of palliative care in order to assist their patients in their overall treatment and care needs. This course will introduce the basics of palliative care and what it means to nursing... more

This course provides an overall picture of trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder for anyone working with someone with a history of trauma, which is often seen in health care settings. Terminology and related concepts are discussed using real-world scenarios and case studies. Nursing professionals should be familiar with symptoms as well as their potential impact on a victim’s life.... more

The abuse of another person implies intention, maltreatment and the violation of their rights. Abuse occurs most commonly between family members, but it also occurs in work relationships and friendships. This course provides an overview of abuse, including definitions, populations affected, recognizing the signs of abuse, and reporting. For nurses working directly with patients, it is... more

Eye drops, ear drops, nose drops, and nasal sprays are routinely prescribed to treat a wide variety of head-related infections and conditions and are commonly used by nursing professionals with a variety of patients. Often, even when drops and sprays are over the counter medications, patients will need assistance with at least one of these medications when under medical care. This course... more

Many individuals receiving care in the hospital or in another less restrictive medical facility following a prolonged illness or injury have their mobility impacted. Patients may become frustrated when they cannot move as much as they want or expect. Often, mobility and ambulation recovery includes the support of nursing professionals skilled in lifting, moving, and supporting an individual... more

All nursing assistants should be familiar with all included policies in the Americans with Disabilities Act and how this legislation impacts their daily work. This course presents key information on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), passed by Congress in 1990. This law has far-reaching implications for anyone working with patients who have a disability as well as organizations in... more

Anxiety disorders impact more than twenty-five million people in the U.S., and these disorders are the most common mental health diagnoses given to children and adolescents. Anxiety disorders are often identified by common symptoms that may include the overwhelming feeling of panic and fear, obsessive thoughts, and recurring nightmares. In both children and adolescents, anxiety disorders often... more

Medical waste is something every medical professional must learn to deal with appropriately for everyone’s safety. The improper disposal of any biomedical waste can lead to injury or illness and poses a threat to healthcare workers and others. In order to create a safe environment for patients and employees, proper procedures must be in place for the safe handling of the waste. This... more

It is important for nursing professionals to recognize different population needs. When working with older adults and individuals with chronic illness, healthcare professionals should approach treatment in a way that addresses the unique needs of these populations. This course discusses the specific needs of elderly and chronically ill patients in a variety of settings, including what services... more

Over 4 million Americans suffer from dementia, which causes a deficiency in thinking, memory, and judgment; the majority of these people have Alzheimer’s disease. These patients have specific symptoms that require special care and treatment. Because these diseases usually end in the patient’s death, they will need to be taken care of for the rest of their lives. Direct Support... more

Chances are Direct Support Professionals will care for many cancer patients over the course of their careers. Having a better understanding of the causes of and treatment for cancer helps Direct Support Professionals give better care to their patients, clients, and residents who will suffer from cancer. This course will teach current and future Direct Support Professionals about the impact of... more

The Direct Support Professional will care for many different types of patients, clients, and residents. Some of these people require care due to illnesses, disabilities, or the effects of old age. Some patients, though, may seem physically healthy but are still unable to care for themselves due to mental or emotional illness. This course will teach current and future Direct Support... more

It is important to know what rights clients and patients have as well as to understand them. Medical care today is complex and full of navigation challenges, all of which can impact rights. Nursing professionals should know both their patients’ rights in general as well as in their unique work setting. Client-patient rights vary from state to state and county to county, but they are... more

Communicating with others is a basic human need and the foundation for all social interactions. When healthcare workers effectively communicate with those for whom they care, it helps patients feel less isolated and can improve their sense of wellbeing. Often, the effects of aging, illness, and disabilities can become barriers to effective caregiver-patient communication. Paying attention to... more

Communicating with others is a basic human need and the foundation for all social interactions. When healthcare workers effectively communicate with their patients, they may feel less isolated and have an improved sense of wellbeing. Often, the effects of aging, illness, and disabilities can become barriers to effective caregiver-patient communication, especially when patients lose some or all... more

When health care workers effectively communicate with those they care for, it helps patients, clients, and residents feel less isolated and improves their sense of wellbeing. When they understand how the communication process works and how to effectively send and receive messages, health care workers are better able to meet the needs of those they care for. This course will teach current and... more

To improve patient outcomes, hospitals and health care centers around the country have implemented quality improvement measures to increase care coordination, patient safety, and preventive services. While there have been many efforts to improve patient care in all medical settings, there continues to be an issue with critical incidents. Nursing Assistants are often the front line for... more

This course provides a basic but comprehensive overview of one of the American Psychiatric Association’s major publications, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). Although previous editions of the manual will be referred to briefly in the discussion as background material, the focus will be on the latest revised version. This is the edition published in May,... more

Our personality is who we are and how we present ourselves to the world. Personality disorders are considered traits that create a pattern of interacting that leads to distress or impairment. This course will discuss the types of personality disorders recognized in the DSM-5, diagnostic criteria and symptoms, and what is known about the prognosis and course of each disorder. 

Sleep-wake disorders are grouped together in a chapter of mental disorders in DSM-5. Appropriate treatment methods vary depending on the nature and severity of the condition, but in some instances, follow up with a sleep specialist is advisable. Sleep disorders are often accompanied by other symptoms of mental disorders such as depression, anxiety, and cognitive changes. In addition,... more

The DSM-5 chapter immediately following Disruptive, Impulse-Control, and Conduct Disorders is a very extensive chapter on Substance Related and Addictive Disorders. The substance-related and addictive disorders are in some respects very similar to the disruptive, impulse-control, and conduct disorders because, like the latter, they are characterized by a tendency to act impulsively without... more

Elder abuse can affect people of all ethnic and social backgrounds, in their home as well as in healthcare settings. Abuse impacts both the victim and his or her caregivers, including nursing professionals caring for elderly patients. It is important for anyone working with or caring for an older adult to know the signs of abuse as well as how to report any concerns identified. This can be... more

When patients are upset, make demands, shout, uses foul language, or threaten others, they are exhibiting aggressive physical behavior. Aggressive behaviors are disruptive and can be harmful to medical professionals, family members, as well as other patients. Nursing assistants working in retirement homes, eldercare facilities, and hospitals are likely to interact with patients who exhibit... more

This course discusses the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), particularly Titles I & II, as they pertain to the medical field. Nursing professionals need to understand HIPAA and how it impacts them personally as well as compliance with HIPAA standards in their day-to-day operations when working with patients. The goal of this course is to increase... more

Incidents of diseases like AIDS, Hepatitis and other infections have increased over the last several decades. Preventing illness has always been an important part of healthcare, but the spread of these deadly diseases has made it even more important. By following infection control techniques and other standard precautions, the Direct Support Professional will keep themselves, their patients,... more

An increasing number of youth are experiencing crises which affect their functioning in their homes, their schools, and their communities. A crisis can affect anyone and many types of crises (like natural disasters, divorce, etc.) are universal. There are, however, specific effects of crises on children and adolescents. In particular, children and adolescents have been found to exhibit a... more

The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services known as CMS has released the 9th and final chapter for the Prescription Drug Benefit Manual regarding a program to control fraud, waste and abuse. This course provides both interpretative rules and guidelines for Part D plan sponsors on how to implement the regulatory requirements to have in place a comprehensive fraud and abuse plan to detect,... more

El dolor es una de las condiciones médicas más generalizadas en la sociedad actual. Vivir con dolor afecta a las personas física y mentalmente, causando un deterioro en su bienestar general. Las pruebas de detección del dolor son esenciales para explorar el grado de dolor que experimenta una persona y para conocer el historial de dolor del paciente. Este curso discutirá la importancia de la... more

La Planificación Centrada en la Persona es un enfoque del tratamiento que comenzó en el trabajo clínico con personas con discapacidades y se ha expandido para ser utilizado en una variedad de poblaciones. En general, una planificación centrada en la persona, es una colección de estilos de planificaciones con un conjunto de principios compartidos que se centran en las necesidades especiales y... more

Falls and resulting injuries are frequent in hospital settings. In fact, falls with serious injuries are among the top events reported in medical settings. Every year in the United Sates, hundreds of thousands of patients fall while in a hospital setting with approximately half of falls resulting in injury. Patient falls are preventable. With the right assessment, knowledge of fall risks, and... more

Los ingresos y reingresos hospitalarios innecesarios están asociados a un impacto negativo en la calidad de vida del paciente. Este proceso de admisiones y readmisiones innecesarias alude en muchos términos, a la recuperación, el viajero frecuente, la re-hospitalización y la readmisión. Para los pacientes, un ingreso o una readmisión innecesaria en el hospital puede llevar al desarrollo de... more

Every year, many workers suffer back injuries caused when they improperly lift and carry heavy loads. This can affect most every worker in any industry, from an officer worker moving a box of copy paper to a carpenter constructing a building. This course discusses several tactics to help workers properly lift and carry heavy loads. 

Schizophrenia affects a person’s perceptions of the world, interactions with others, and thinking. Individuals with schizophrenia lose touch with reality and therefore have significant challenges negotiating daily activities. Schizophrenia is a chronic brain disorder, and people can live fairly independently and lead satisfying lives with the right treatment and strong support system.... more

Childhood sexual abuse has multiple negative impacts across the lifespan. In the U.S. alone, an estimated one out of three females and one out of five males will be sexually victimized before they turn 18 years old. Prior sexual abuse can often manifest through sexualized behaviors and mental health disorders in children and adolescents. Children who have been sexually or physically abused... more

Over the past decade, the number of suicide attempts and completions has risen, resulting in a pressing need for suicide prevention. The societal impact of suicide cannot be measured as families and entire communities can be impacted when someone commits suicide, creating an increased risk for all. There have been programs successfully implemented to help prevent and respond to suicide, but... more

Children in foster care are more likely to experience adverse childhood experiences, which increases their risk of negative outcomes in childhood and into adulthood. Many of the adverse experiences are highly traumatic and ultimately result in foster care placement. Because trauma is known to result in increased stress, children unable to adapt to the stress will find it more challenging to... more