Courses
To register for any of these courses, click here.
Research Applications: Delivering Mouth Care to Persons with Dementia
NURS 8171A (1 contact hour) Instructor: Rita Jablonski
This course involves educating family members and other caregivers on the positive outcomes of providing mouth care, and the best methods for providing mouth care to
patients — whether they have dentures or their natural teeth. Students can learn how to apply the Need-Driven Dementia-Compromised Behavior Model to situations
involving patients with dementia who resist mouth care.
Cost: Free
Delirium
NURS 6008, (1 contact hour) Instructor: Melinda Steis, PhD, RN
This course begins with an explanation of delirium and the importance of the problem, risk factors, and delirium sub-types. Nursing assessment for delirium and potential causes
are covered in detail. Nursing management guidelines are suggested and the presentation concludes with Web sites that may be used as references for nurses caring for persons with
delirium. Upon completion you may be able to differentiate delirium from other conditions while caring for older adult patients, demonstrate skills to assess mental
status, and demonstrate interventions for nurse management of persons at risk or experiencing delirium.
Cost: Free
The Diabetes Tsunami and the Older Adult
NURS 6019, (1 contact hour) Instructor: Mary Ellen Yonushonis, RN, MS, CNE
Incidence, statistics, and impact of diabetes of the older adult will be described. Prevention, detection, and strategies to manage type 2 diabetes will be discussed. Objectives
include describing the incidence, risk factors, and impact of diabetes mellitus in the older adult; explaining age-related changes, detection, and diagnosis of diabetes mellitus in
the older adult; listing strategies for management of diabetes in the older adult including meal planning, exercise, monitoring, oral medications, and insulin.
Cost: Free
Medication Use and the Older Adult
NURS 6003 (1 contact hour) Instructor: Darlene Clark
This course provides an overview of issues related to medication use and the older adult. These issues include medication, medication interaction and other factors that modify
medication action in the body, polypharmacy, medication compliance, adverse reactions to medications, and age-related changes and how they affect medication use. The course will
describe the physiologic changes that occur as one ages and their impact on medication use; discuss the principles of drug use among the elderly; and identify and assess
interventions to promote safe medication management.
Cost: $15
Transition of Elders to Extended Care Facilities
NURS 6004 (1 contact hour) Instructor: Tamara H. Murphy, MS, ACNS-BC, GCNS-BC, CCRN
This course will assess the challenges of limited resources and socioeconomic complexities as elders transition from home settings to various levels of care. Participants will learn
to describe the symptoms which signal the need for placement in an assisted living or extended care facility, and to identify skills that facilitate transition to long term care —
reducing the risk of trauma to the patient and family and lessening the risk of failure in the new care setting.
Cost: Free
Gestational Age: Implications for Neonatal Nursing Care
NURS 6005 (1 contact hour) Instructor: Janet Fogg, RNC-NIC, MSN
This course is designed to help registered nurses update their knowledge about gestational age and growth categories of neonates and related nursing care implications,
including information regarding the care of late preterm infants.
Cost: $15
Complementary Therapy in Health Care
NURS 6006 (1 contact hour) Instructor: Darlene Clark
This course will describe a number of complementary modalities used in health care today. Participants will be able to differentiate between traditional treatment and integrative
options. Participants will review ten safe and effective treatments that enhance medical care.
Cost: $15
Herbal Medicine, Anesthesia, and Surgery: A Primer
NURS 6007 (1 contact hour) Instructor: Eric Doerfler
This course reviews the benefits and hazards of herbal medicines and use patterns among patients who take over-the-counter herbal supplements. The focus is on phytopharmacology and
the potential for interactions with anesthetics as well as risks associated with surgery, such as prolonged bleeding. Emphasis for the nurse is on establishing rapport to gain
adequate disclosure, understanding patient motives for using supplements, and educational strategies for improving patient safety and surgical outcomes.
Cost: $15
Hepatitis and the Liver
NURS 6010 (1 contact hour) Instructor: Lisa Ann Firestine, MSN
This course provides a review of liver anatomy and physiology. In addition, it describes the various stages of hepatitis infection and presents etiology, clinical presentation,
diagnostic tests, treatment, and prevention associated with each of the different types of hepatitis virus. Upon conclusion of this course, the learner will be able to: 1) identify
the normal structure and function of the liver; 2) describe the various stages of hepatitis infections; and 3) discuss the etiology, clinical presentation, diagnostic tests,
treatment, and prevention associated with different types of hepatitis virus.
Cost: $15
Introduction to Evidence-Based Nursing Practice
NURS 6011 (1 contact hour) Instructor: Kathleen Mastrian, RN, PhD
This presentation will introduce practicing registered nurses to the essential concepts of evidence based practice and provide strategies for implementing evidence based practice. As
a result of this presentation, participants will be able to: 1) define evidence based practice; 2) relate the goals of evidence based practice to personal practice; and 3) describe
strategies for implementing evidence-based practice recommendations.
Cost: $15
Legal and Ethical Issues
NURS 6012 (1 contact hour) Instructor: Deborah Lessard
At the completion of this course participants will be able to describe the categories of health care liability and the professional responsibilities of health care providers and
caregivers. The participants will be able to identify and eliminate potential risks and threats to patients and co-workers. The course will also cover the ethics and sources of
liability that can be created within the health care system and the penalties of misconduct.
Cost: $15
Living with a Life-Threatening Illness
NURS 6013 (1 contact hour) Instructor: Mary Ellen Yonushonis, RN, MS, CNE
This presentation will demonstrate the struggles and achievements that a doctoral student has made while enduring the challenges of pancreatic cancer. Participants will be able to
identify the aspects of living with a life-threatening illness, as well as demonstrate an understanding of the life lessons learned through adversity.
Cost: $15
Nursing Management of Heart Failure
NURS 6014 ( 1 contact hour) Instructor: Darlene Clark
This course will review the definition of heart failure and give updates on the causes, signs and symptoms, diagnostics, and nursing care of the client with heart failure. The
importance of comprehensive discharge instructions will be emphasized.
Cost: $15
Understanding the Effects of Sleep on Cognitive Function in the Elderly
NURS 6018 (1 contact hour) Instructor: Theresa Tulaney
This course will review the effects of sleep on cognitive function in the geriatric population. It will focus on actions health care providers can take to improve sleep in
this population, as well as review basic barriers and facilitators of sleep. Objectives will include identify sleep changes that occur with aging, identify the effects
altered sleep has on cognitive function in the geriatric population, and list actions that health care providers can do to assist their patients to improve their sleep.
Cost: Free
Module I: The Changing Face of the HIV/AIDS Epidemic
(1 contact hour; not approved for Act 48 )
This module will begin with a historical overview of the evolution of the HIV/AIDS epidemic over the past 30 years. The current status of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, particularly in the
United States, will be presented, with updates on its prevalence and effects on various groups including gay persons, bisexual persons, African Americans, Latinos, women, transgender
people, youth, and older persons. For your convenience, this course will be offered every semester. You must complete the course and an online evaluation within the semester you
register.
Cost: $10
Module II: HIV/AIDS: From Infection to Disease
(1 contact hour; not approved for Act 48 )
This module will present the most current information about the biology of the virus and its transmission routes. The progression of HIV infection in the body will be presented, from
the time of infection until a diagnosis of AIDS is given. Details about HIV antibody testing and treatment will be provided. For your convenience, this course will be offered
every semester. You must complete the course and online evaluation within the semester you register.
Cost: $10
Module III: HIV/AIDS Education and Prevention
(1 contact hour; not approved for Act 48 )
This module will explore the current sources of HIV/AIDS education and the level of knowledge about this topic among people in our schools and society at large. The effects of
HIV/AIDS stigma will also be addressed. Recommended standards for HIV/AIDS education will be provided, along with guidelines for effective educational strategies. The course will
conclude with a variety of prevention strategies recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other important resources. For your convenience, this course
will be offered every semester. You must complete the course and an online evaluation within the semester you register.
Cost: $10
Module IV: HIV/AIDS in the 21st Century
(Approved for 3 Act 48 hours)
This module will begin with a historical overview of the evolution of the HIV/AIDS epidemic since its detection in the United States more than 30 years ago. The current status of the
HIV/AIDS epidemic will be presented with updates on its prevalence and effects on various groups including gay persons, bisexual persons, African Americans, Latinos, women,
transgender people, youth, and older persons. The most current information about the biology of the virus and its transmission routes will be addressed. The progression of the HIV
infection in the body will be presented, from the time of infection until a diagnosis of AIDS is given. Details about HIV antibody testing and treatment will be provided. We will
examine the current sources of HIV/AIDS education and the level of knowledge about this topic among people in our schools and society at large. The effects of HIV/AIDS stigma will
also be addressed. Recommended standards for HIV/AIDS education will be provided, along with guidelines for effective educational and prevention strategies. For your convenience,
this course will be offered every semester. You must complete the course and an online evaluation within the semester you register.
Cost: $30
To register for any of the above courses, click here.
Upcoming course topics
Nurse Management
Medical/Surgical Nursing
Mental Health
program of the Penn State School of
Nursing
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