Continuing Education for Nurses in Alaska

Course expiration date: 9/4/2021

Pain is a complex phenomenon and is experienced differently by every person. The experience of pain and the way people react to it varies with culture, age, and co-existing medical or mental health conditions. It is imperative that nurses have knowledge of the various types of pain, their physiologies, how to assess pain, and how to facilitate pain management. This education program provides an overview of pain, the physiology of pain, its impact on economic and personal status, and pain treatment.

Course expiration date: 6/20/2021

Abdominal pain is a common reason patients present in an acute-care setting, representing around 10 million emergency department visits in 2013, according to the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey. Abdominal pain can be accompanied by other symptoms or may exist in isolation. Using a case study approach, this education program provides information to help nurses accurately evaluate abdominal pain and take appropriate nursing action.

Course expiration date: 8/24/2021

Appropriate prescribing practices are critical for all medications, but drugs that are considered controlled substances require additional attention. The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), along with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), all have a role in determining the scheduling of prescription medications. As prescribers, it is critical that nurse practitioners understand not only federal but state requirements for prescribing all controlled substances. In addition, inappropriately prescribing opioids, resulting in their misuse and abuse, has led to many changes, including new safety and quality recommendations that must be considered. This course will provide a general review of federal and state controlled substance regulations and the prescribing of all controlled substances in general, as well as focus on clinical and safety considerations when prescribing opioid medications for acute and chronic pain not related to cancer.

Course expiration date: 12/5/2021

This course provides an overview of heroin and its use in the United States, signs and symptoms of heroin use as well as immediate and long-term interventions.

Course expiration date: 12/17/2021

Safety comes first in patient care and in health-care environments.  However, despite the focus on safety in health-care literature and within health-care organizations, medical errors are the third leading cause of death in the United States. In fact, it is estimated that more than 250,000 deaths per year are due to medical errors. It is imperative that nurses and their interdisciplinary colleagues work together to establish a viable culture of safety in their organizations. This course presents the latest National Patient Safety Goals as well as strategies to improve the safety of health-care organizations.

Course expiration date: 1/28/2022

Bullying and horizontal violence in the workplace occurs far too often.  Whether between professionals of a single discipline or among different disciplines, the consequences of bullying and horizontal violence are the same. This course will provide an overview of horizontal violence, characteristics of both abusers and victims, and how to reduce the prevalence of horizontal violence in the workplace.