Nurse Refresher Course Objectives

At the end of the Critical Care nursing review course, the nurse would express a good understanding of the following topics:

-Critical Care Basics

-Holistic Care Issues

-Neurologic System care

-Cardiovascular System care

-Respiratory System care

-Cardiovascular System care

-Renal System care

-Endocrine System care

-Hematologic System care

-Multi-System Issues care

-Moderate Sedation care

-Preventing Compilations in the critically obese patient

-Drug overdose and poisoning

Nursing Pharmacology

At the end of the nursing pharmacology course, the nurse would express a good understanding of the following topics:

-How drugs act and interact in the treatment of disease.

-The mechanisms of drug action;

-details of specific drugs by pharmacologic class;

-Review of the nursing process related to each drug category for all body systems, plus pain medications, anti-infective drugs, and cancer drugs; and highlights of potentially dangerous interactions, including drug-herb interactions.

-An overview of Pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, pharmacotherapeutics, interactions, adverse reactions, and nursing process considerations for each drug.

Intravenous Therapy and Blood Withdrawal Course Description

This class teaches students how to initiate and/or maintain common intravenous therapies. It also covers proper nursing assessments, documentation, and special patient care during Intravenous therapy and blood withdrawal procedures. The focus is on hospitalized patients but the knowledge acquired is applicable to the home health and field settings. The IV therapy and Blood Withdrawal class is a 36 contact hour course with 27 hours spent in theory and 9 hours spent in practical demonstration.

Upon the completion of this course, students will:

-Describe the anatomy of the skin, the microscopic structure of the vein and the location of veins in the upper and lower extremities of the body

-Explain the psychological preparation of the patient prior to IV therapy

-Explain the universal precautions for infection control

-Describe the indications for intravenous therapy, types of venipuncture devices and types of delivery systems.

-Describe types of intravenous fluids

-Explain the preparation and immobilization of the venipuncture site

-Explain the observation of a patient undergoing intravenous therapy and regulation of the fluid flow

-Explain local and systemic reactions and interventions.

-Explain methods of blood withdrawal which are venipunture, skin puncture (capillary blood withdrawal) and arterial puncture

-Explain homeostasis, the three major organs effecting homeostasis, and functions of electrolytes.

-Calculate the correct volume and dosage for a prescribed IV medication dose

-Explain how to select the appropriate method in a given situation.

-Describe the different safety measures during blood withdrawal

-Explain the possible complications as well as possible interventions for each complication episode

-Describe the preparation of the withdrawal site

-Explain the proper documentation associated with IV therapy and blood withdrawal

-Describe the legal aspects as set forth in California Business and Professions code sections 2860.5(b) and (c)

-Demonstrate the following:

1. Preparation of equipment for intravenous therapy and blood withdrawal

2. Knowledge of the safety factors

3. Choice of a vein

4. Choice of the device for intravenous therapy and blood withdrawal

5. Techniques of venipuncture

6. Preparation of the venipuncture site

7. Preparation of the equipment

8. Successful Placement of a IV catheter

9. Universal precautions for infection control

EKG for Nurses

At the end of the EKG for Nurses course, the nurse would express a good understanding of the following topics:

-Introduction to Electrocardiography

-The duties of a nurse during Electrocardiography?

-Proper attachment of electrodes to the patient's chest, arms, and legs. A general knowledge of the EKG machine as it is used to trace and -record electrical impulses transmitted by the patient's heart. Nurses’ responsibility in data collection before, during and after EKG.

- An overview of Holter monitoring and stress testing.

-Understanding various EKG/Dysrhythmia reading and interpretations and nursing interventions

Management of Assaultive Behavior

At the end of the managing aggressive behavior class, the student will express a good understanding of the following:

(1) Meaning of Assault

(2) Types of Assaultive behaviors and their Causes

(3) General safety measures.

(4) Personal safety measures.

(5) The assault cycle.

(6) Aggression and violence predicting factors.

(7) Obtaining patient history from a patient with violent behavior.

(8) Characteristics of aggressive and violent patients and victims.

(9) Verbal and physical maneuvers to diffuse and avoid violent behavior.

(10) Strategies to avoid physical harm.

(11) Restraining techniques.

(12) Appropriate use of medications as chemical restraints.