Nursing Jurisprudence and Ethics – What is there to learn?

As of 2014, the Texas board of nursing officially announced a new continuing nursing education requirement for all practicing nurses. From this year on, Texas nurses will need to take 2.0 hours of continuing nursing education in Jurisprudence and Ethics every third licensing cycle. Any CNE course about Jurisprudence and Ethics needs to be specifically focused on Texas nurses, the Texas Nurse Practice Act, and the specific Texas rules in order to count towards the requirement.

 

Jurisprudence and Ethics is a crucial foundation for nursing practice. For the majority of nurses though, this legal “stuff” doesn’t seem all that interesting or applicable to their daily practices. However, those legal things are crucial to the practice of nursing within the state.

 

In every day terms, it means that the laws and regulations that are covered in an online continuing nursing education program on Jurisprudence and Ethics are the laws that govern the practice of nursing. The purpose of this framework is to protect the citizens of the state from unlicensed and or reckless professionals. In Texas these key laws were instated by the Texas legislature over 100 years ago.

 

Although legal topics may not be the most interesting, it is important to be familiar with the legal foundation of the state in which you practice in. Continuing nursing education about jurisprudence and ethics in Texas is a helpful way to learn more about the rules that support the practice of nursing.

Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections – The Most Prominent HAI

Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) are the most common Health Care Associated Infections in the United States. Curiously, over 75% of all Urinary Tract Infections are attributable with a urinary catheter. Of the likely issues linked to Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections, the most significant risk factor concerning CAUTI is long term utilization of the catheter device.

 

 

It is estimated that 15-25% of all the individuals in the US’ Healthcare system will be given some kind of Urinary catheter for a specific time frame. The populations that are often given a Urinary Catheter are normally at risk of developing further complications – reducing the amount of Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections is a top priority for health care providers across the nation.

 

 

To help drive a reduction effort, the Joint Commission officially recognized the reduction of CAUTIs as a top patient safety goal for organizations across the United States. Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections bring about lengthy hospital stays, unneeded patient safety risks, and elevated costs to the health care provider.

 

 

In other words, it’s unacceptable to just accept that urinary tract infections may develop throughout the span of a patient’s treatment. As medical specialists who are determined to improving quality, the reduction of UTIs and the reduction of CAUTIs has to be a key focus on the quest to enhancing patient safety within our organizations.

Online CNE – Here to Stay?

Within the past decade online learning has evolved into something tremendous. Nurses, especially, have seen a huge influx of online learning options for either primary courses or online continuing nursing education. Traditionally, when we thought of Continuing Education “CE” we thought of conferences, in-services, and a lot of colorful handouts and free hand sanitizers. Even though those components still exist, online CNE is continuously flourishing in acceptance by practicing registered nurses.

 

Without a doubt, completing your CNE credits online is easy. One key factor leading to this level of convenience is that online cne course providers typically have a nice selection of courses ready for you to take at any time. There is no start dates or enrollment periods. On the other hand, CNE courses can be taken from any location in which there happens to be an internet connection.

 

For the most part, online CNE courses are in a textual format – as a result an individual reads the online courses and then takes an exam of some sort. Many online CE providers are gradually releasing various forms of media which include audio and video and are testing user reviews. There are even some online providers that offer free courses or courses that require no exam for completion. These types of offerings have led to many traditional continuing nursing education providers questioning the validity of Online CNE in general.

 

You may now be wondering – what’s worth looking for??

 

Once you have found a course on a provider’s website that you are interested in there are several key ideas for finding something that will be worthwhile.  The next step will be to check if the course/provider is accredited by an appropriate accrediting provider. The American Nurses Credentialing Center and the State Nursing Boards are the most typical kinds of accreditation. It is very important to check the accreditation associated with a provider so that you do not take a course which will not be authorized through your state board.

 

After checking the accreditation status be sure to see if the course is free or if the course has a price. There are some online CNE providers that require a month-to-month contract or some sort of annual fees in order to take their courses. Other providers charge on solely a course per course basis. Be sure to see if you can view a preview of the course and to get a good idea of what kind of return policy/customer service options might be available. .

 

In short, the online world is changing the way in which nurses encounter continuing education. It is exciting to think about just how much online nursing education has grown and to think about how much more it may develop in the next few years.

Air Embolism Safety?

An Air Embolism is a rare, but extremely serious complication, that is considered a “never event” by the centers for medicare and Medicaid . Outside of a very particular set of natural occurring situations, the majority of reported Air Emboli occur within hospitals as a result of specific procedures.

A series of large national surveys found that most nurses “had never, to their knowledge, encountered an air embolism in their practice”. This was quite a startling finding. Especially considering that an air embolism can be extremely difficult to diagnose, and that the symptoms are very similar to that of a huge variety of other complications.

Due to the subtlety of the symptoms, an air embolism may not be fully recognizable until cardiovascular collapse occurs. As a quick reference, treatment options should be employed whenever an air embolism is suspected. The immediate recommended treatment options include:

• Place patient in the left-sided Trendelenburg position if not contraindicated.
• Occlude entryway of passive air
• Administer Oxygen at 100%
• If a catheter was in use – attempt to aspirate
• Monitor Vital Signs
• Notify Physician for further instructions

Although uncommon, air embolisms can be extremely lethal. Still, the ability to identify a suspected air embolism is crucial for nurses working with all types of populations. After hunting for a good source of evidence based practices for nursing we were referred to CNE Explorer for their top-rated air embolism online cne courses.

Learn More about MERS

Although Ebola has dominated the international headlines, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) is a very recently discovered virus that has infected hundreds of people in and around the Arabian Peninsula. The contagious nature of the disease has resulted in airports across the world beginning to implement travel checks and advisories. Experts estimate the mortality rate for the disease to be close to 30% and the health care providers have been among the highest rates of new cases.

 

It is believed that MERS originates in infected animals (thus zoonotic) and is then transmitted to humans from the infected animal. Camels in the affected region have been identified with the disease and camel workers have been disproportionately affected. However, the method in which the virus spreads from human to human is currently not yet understood. The leading theory is that the virus spreads when a person comes into contact with an infected person’s secretions or bodily fluids.

 

MERS originated in the Arabian Peninsula and the surrounding areas. There have also been a small amount of cases in Europe, Asia, and North America. The early symptoms of the disease are very similar to the flu and as such it is believed that the disease is very capable of being brought into other countries through travelers.  Individuals who have come into unprotected contact with a MERS patient within the past 14 days should consult a physician for a full evaluation.

 

Currently, there is no vaccine or treatment option for MERS. The patients who do survive the disease develop antibodies on their own to combat the disease; however, it not fully understood why some patients can develop a response and why some patients cannot. Accordingly, early recognition and supportive treatment are crucial in order to stimulate a potential recovery. Emergency care and ambulatory care nurses should seek out some form of continuing nursing education about the MERS virus.

Wow, He Seems Young to Be Suffering From Heart Failure…. Let’s Think History of Cocaine Use.

Cardiovascular disease is the major cause of death in the United States and also the leading reason for hospital admission. Within the large population of patients suffering with cardiovascular disease is a very unique sub-population — patients who are demographically “younger than normal” who have a history of past cocaine abuse.

Cocaine use is relatively widespread within the United States, with an estimated 25 million users having tried out the drug along with an approximated 5 million individuals regularly using the drug. It is important to consider the increase in cocaine use in the late 70’s and 80’s among 20 and 30 year olds in large metropolitan cities. Now, as these individuals are in their 40’s and 50’s the ramifications of prolonged cocaine use seem to be coming to the surface

Of the issues associated with cocaine use, heart failure is one of the most serious. Patients with a history of cocaine use and who now present with heart failure will have symptoms similar to normal heart failure patients. A key difference though will be the younger age of the patient (think 40 – 50). Of course, individuals may also present in full pulmonary edema or in cardiogenic shock. Unfortunately, the exact amount and duration of cocaine use necessary to develop heart failure is not understood. Patients which have a history of stimulant use usually tend to have multiple hospital readmissions within brief periods of time.

Nurses must be proficient in acquiring drug backgrounds from their patients. A drug background ought to include use and regularity, as well as patterns and habits in mixing drugs (including alcohol). Self-reported usage is the main means of assessing for drug and alcohol abuse within the health care setting – placing an ever increasing importance on interview skills. The Alcohol, Smoking, Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) questionnaire can be used in the acute care setting as a helpful tool to spur an intervention.

In short, nurses will encounter patients with a history of drug use and it is crucial that they be able to provide the necessary intervention in order to provide the appropriate level of patient safety. Although a variety of online CNE courses exist for intervention skills and ambulatory care continuing nursing education, nothing is able to replace real on the job experience talking and listening to patients.

Interested in Leech Therapy?

Throughout Europe and the United States, Leech Therapy has experienced a modern resurgence to medical relevancy. With records dating back to antiquity, leech therapy is one of the oldest medical treatments in human history. Within the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officially approved leeches as a medicinal device. This ushered in widespread use of the animals and a boom for European leech farms.

 

Historically used for practices such as bloodletting, today leeches are much more versatile. They are used in situations where a patient has congested blood flow and a stimulation is needed to promote proper blood flow. This occurs when a limb or finger is severed and then surgically reattached (or also during certain skin or tissue grafts). In many cases, leech therapy can be the difference of saving the finger or tissue section and losing it.

 

With the new clinical usage of these versatile animals, it is crucial that nursing teams be familiar with the best practices regarding leech therapy. On that note, we decided to look around online for a continuing nursing education course (online CNE) that might cover leech therapy in some form or fashion. Interestingly, we found a lot of odd practitioners for the treatment, articles on how it is great for everlasting beauty, and just one online CNE course on Leech Therapy. Although we haven’t taken the course yet (and thus can’t recommend it) it is worth looking into if you are interested in learning more about the ancient practice of leech therapy.

Your Secret Career Tool? Life Long Learning

When we are small children the world is a big and interesting place and we curiously explore it, try new things, and run around having fun. Slowly though, as we grow up the world begins to tell us to play it safe, sit down, and be quiet. In an almost ironic turn of events, we later learn that leadership requires us to be able take risks, learn, and stand out when necessary. For a professional looking to further their career, a combination of lifelong learning and action is necessary.

 

For some health care providers the prospect of “having to” take a certain amount of continuing nursing education each year may seem dumb or silly. Sadly, these “forced” requirements oftentimes help busy professionals reallocate the time needed to learn something new. Also, remember that there is much more to “lifelong” learning than state mandated CNE courses. Learning a new skill such as a new language or a new creative interest like drawing or origami are all additional forms of lifelong learning. In most cases, it is incredibly easy to learn something new – you could go online and take a free course or maybe pay a small amount at a local community college. To some these may seem like completely useless in terms of career advancement, but you may find that your hospital wants to open a small clinic to serve Spanish speaking patients, or you may be able to make a child smile after a difficult procedure with an origami figure.

 

Aside from the potential career applications, when you go out of your way to learn new things you reduce boredom and become statistically happier and more positive. Without a doubt, these attitudes translate to your family and personal life. The next time you hear someone complaining about the mandatory in-service just smile. Learning new things throughout your life is crucial to mental health, positivity and your career aspirations.

A Quick Look at Nursing Jurisprudence

Whether you are a nurse or a student aspiring to be a nurse, it is important to understand the legal supports of the nursing profession. So, here is a quick discussion of the boards of nursing, the nurse practice act, and the circumstances that can lead to disciplinary action.

 

The boards of nursing are the most commonly known “touch point” for nurses in each state. Their goal is to protect the citizens of the state and to regulate the nursing practice within the state. The Boards are in place to protect and ensure the welfare of the state’s citizens (not to protect nurses). Once a nurse obtains a license from a state board, the board will continue to monitor the individual for compliance and will take action against nurses that have exhibited unsafe nursing practice.

 

“The Nurse Practice Act” is a set of laws that each state will have in some form or fashion. In short, the nursing practice acts cover the details of the scope of nursing practice within a specific state. These laws normally cover the following points:

The requirements for having and maintaining a nursing license

Establishment of a State Board of Nursing (it is the Nurse Practice Act that will outline how the board can be formed and what the board can do).

The different nursing titles that are allowed to be employed (RN, LPN, LVN, etc.)

The scope of allowed practice within the state (what the nurse is allowed to do)

Actions that can or will happen if the nurse does not follow the nursing law.

 

Disciplinary action of a nurse usually occurs when the nurse has violated a board rule, contributed to the death or injury of a patient, or if a nurse is suspected of being impaired by chemical dependency or drug or alcohol abuse. A nurse may also be disciplined if the nurse has exploited a patient-nurse relationship, caused fraud or violated professional boundaries, or if the nurse poses a risk of harm to a patient. Typically, incidents are classified as minor or major incidents.

 

Whenever we hear the term jurisprudence and ethics we are referring to the legal and ethical environments that surround the nursing profession. Recently, multiple states have begun to require nurses to take a Jurisprudence and Ethics continuing nursing education course at some interval. The goal is to better inform the nursing population of the legal environments that exist within the state.

Ambulatory Care Nursing – A New Solution

The past decade has seen a tremendous change in ambulatory care nursing. Throughout the United States, ambulatory care nurses typically practice in clinics and hospital systems with the common patient theme being – the patient walks in and then walks back out. Historically, the outpatient setting was driven solely by physician practices. These physicians generally saw patients that were referred to them, tackled the issues that they could, and then referred to patient to additional providers as needed. The system was driven by individual physicians and there was not a large role for registered nurses working throughout the outpatient setting.

 

Hospital systems began to change – they grew larger, more financially diversified, and newer technology allowed for less intrusive procedures. As such, more and more patients could be treated on an outpatient basis. As our general population began to age, more and more patients (with increasingly complex issues) began to enter this new health care landscape. The combination of these factors led to the need for registered nurses to work within the ambulatory setting.

 

 

Today, ambulatory care nursing is a booming specialty. Complete with its own nursing specialty certificates, ambulatory care continuing nursing education and career paths. Within the ambulatory care setting, registered nurses must be able to provide a wide range of nursing interventions and activities. Further, the limited time frame per patient adds additional complexity. Nurses must perform tasks and interventions in a very structured and focused manner.

 

Modern outpatient facilities now dot the United States. In most instances these have been developed by the large regional hospital systems. Together, these centers serve millions of Americans each year and they exist in a variety of forms – such as small regional or “local neighborhood” clinics. The response of Americans to this structural change has been increasingly positive, and thus, the continued demand for ambulatory care nurses can be expected.