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Full Course Description

The Hero’s Journey in Medicine & Beyond

Dr. Damania will discuss the transition to Health 3.0 through the monomyth of the Hero’s Journey. He will pay special attention to burnout and moral injury in the healthcare workforce and discuss how we can forge a new way for delivering care that is compassionate, relationship-based and technology-enabled. Dr. Damania will provide guidance and inspiration to dispel your doubts and fears, while also giving you strength and courage to begin the quest!

Program Information

Objectives

  1. Identify the elements of the classic hero’s journey in individuals and our healthcare system.
  2. Determine the root causes of provider burnout, moral injury and suffering.
  3. Identify approaches to self-realization that address the root causes of suffering.
  4. Explain new financial and care models that aim to deliver cost-effective, high-quality care while integrating left brain and right brain approaches.

Outline

The Hero’s Journey

  • Why it is relevant individually and systemically
  • Introduce the process of awakening and self-realization
Left Brain vs. Right Brain
  • Discuss the different approaches of the two hemispheres
Health 1.0
  • Review the old system as a starting place for the hero’s journey, pure right brain medicine
Health 2.0
  • Review the current medical paradigm, pure left brain medicine
  • The Hero’s Journey into trials and tribulations
  • Role of The Mentor
The Roots of Moral Injury/Burnout
  • Review of the current challenges in our healthcare system related to fee-for-service incentives
  • Malpractice considerations
  • Increasing administrative burden
  • Inability to focus on or get reimbursed for preventative and holistic approaches
  • Discuss mind-identification and thought-belief
The Hero’s Journey
  • The role of creative destruction of the false self and awakening
  • The role of meditation, retreats, practices
Health 3.0
  • Integration of left and right brain approaches with appropriate dominance of right hemisphere holistic approach
  • Discussion of medical models of Health 3.0
Awakening/Meditation
  • Sample techniques such as self-inquiry, natural meditation, and others

Target Audience

  • Nurses
  • Nurse Practitioners
  • Clinical Nurse Specialists
  • Physicians
  • Physician Assistants

Copyright : 04/20/2023

Opioid Prescribing Strategies: Based on New CDC Guidelines

Opioid medications are very powerful pain killers which are extremely addictive. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 100,000 people died of drug overdoses in the United States during the 12-month period May 2020 to April 2021, reflecting a new record high.

According to the 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) among people aged 12 and older in 2020, 1% (or 2.7 million people) had an opioid use disorder in the past year.

Prescription opioids have been suggested to be an important gateway drug. In fact, opioids should not be the first-line treatment for chronic pain. Health care providers should first consider nonopioid pain relievers or nonpharmacological options.

To mitigate this explosion of opioid-associated morbidity and mortality, Dr. Paul Langois will discuss methods to mitigate the opioid crisis thru judicious prescribing, proper tapering and through a thorough patient follow-up. Numerous case studies will be used throughout this presentation to solidify the learning experience. Dr. Langlois has lectured on this topic to several multidisciplinary healthcare audiences in recent years.

Program Information

Objectives

  1. Describe three non-opioid interventions to manage acute pain.
  2. Discriminate between natural, synthetic and semi-synthetic opioids in management of pain.
  3. State one method used to taper opioid medications.
  4. Describe two methods to identify opioid abuse.

Outline

Opioid use and abuse

  • Mortality and morbidity
  • Epidemiology
Treating pain without opioids
  • Noninvasive nonpharmacologic approaches to pain management
  • Nonopioids for pain control
  • Acute pain
    • Neuropathic pain
    • Non-neuropathic pain
  • Case studies
Selecting opioids for pain management and dose ranges
  • Types of opioids and dosages
    • Natural
    • Synthetic
    • Semi-synthetic
  • Immediate release versus extended release
  • Tapering opioids: When and how
  • Duration of opioids for pain
  • Initial follow-up appointment
  • Case studies
Pathophysiology of opioid use and abuse

Assessing potential opioid harm and risk
  • Pregnant women
  • Elderly
  • Renal or hepatic insufficiency
  • Case studies
Differential diagnosis of opioid abuse disorder

Treatment
  • Opioid overdose
  • Opioid intoxication
  • Maintenance therapy
  • Preventing relapse
  • Pain management
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Guidelines

Target Audience

• Nurses • Nurse Practitioners • Clinical Nurse Specialists • Physicians • Physician Assistants

Copyright : 04/20/2023

Simple and Complex UTI Management: With E. coli Resistance Considerations

This session will dissect the evolving landscape for managing the spectrum of urinary tract infections in light of the increasing prevalence of E. coli resistance. Time will be spent exploring trends in E. coli resistance and the associated impact on antimicrobial selection particularly for complicated urinary tract infections, including pyelonephritis. The session will review recommendations for managing non-typical urinary pathogens, such as Candida. Attention will be given to non-antibiotic approaches to limit recurrent urinary tract infections, and guidance for managing asymptomatic bacteriuria.

Program Information

Objectives

  1. Describe resistance trends of urinary pathogens in the community.
  2. Formulate effective evidence-based treatment regimens for simple cystitis.
  3. Integrate cephalosporins for successful management of complicated urinary tract infections.
  4. Contact antibiotic and non-antibiotic approaches to prevent recurrent urinary tract infections.
  5. Distinguish clinical scenarios requiring initiation of antimicrobials in response to bacteriuria.

Outline

Resistance

  • Evidence of changing resistance patterns to typical urinary antimicrobials for common urinary pathogens
Simple Cystitis
  • Nitrofurantoin evidence and pharmacology
  • Fosfomycin evidence and pharmacology
Complicated Cystitis
  • Etiological considerations/resistance in complicated cystitis
  • Cephalosporins
  • Fosfomycin
Pyelonephritis
  • Evaluate evidence for cephalosporin use in pyelonephritis
  • Drug overdosing and kinetics considerations
Atypical Urinary Pathogens
  • Approach to Candida
  • Approach to other pathogens
Recurrent UTI
  • Antibiotic prophylaxis
  • Methenamine prophylaxis
  • topical estrogen prophylaxis
Asymptomatic Bacteriuria
  • Definitions and Guideline Recommendations
  • Impact of antibiotic use

Target Audience

• Nurses • Nurse Practitioners • Clinical Nurse Specialists • Physicians • Physician Assistants

Copyright : 04/20/2023

Parkinson’s Disease: Current Pharmacologic Methods of Treatment

Parkinson disease is a heterogeneous disease with rapidly and slowly progressive forms. Treatment involves pharmacologic approaches (typically with levodopa preparations prescribed with or without other medications) and nonpharmacologic approaches (such as exercise and physical, occupational, and speech therapies). Our emphasis in this training session will be on current evidence to guide medication selection. Approaches such as deep brain stimulation and treatment with levodopa-carbidopa enteral suspension can help individuals with medication-resistance tremor, worsening symptoms when the medication wears off, and dyskinesias.

Program Information

Objectives

  1. Develop a predication model for diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease based on presentations in primary care.
  2. Describe the current treatment options of Parkinson’s Disease.
  3. Analyze nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic methods of treatment of Parkinson’s.
  4. Evaluate deep brain stimulation and treatment with levodopa-carbidopa enteral suspension to help individuals with medication-resistant tremor, worsening symptoms when the medication wears off, and dyskinesias.

Outline

Clinical Significance

  • Defined primarily by motor symptoms including tremor, bradykinesia and akinesia
  • May demonstrate non-motor symptoms such as cognitive decline, depression, anxiety, sleep disturbance and dysautonomia
  • Dopaminergic medications and deep brain stimulation for motor symptom treatment
Clinical Presentation to Guide Pharmacological Decisions
  • Assessment
  • Imaging
  • Co-morbidities
Evidence Based Treatments
  • Medications
  • Nonpharmacy
  • Surgeries
  • Rehab

Target Audience

• Nurses • Nurse Practitioners • Clinical Nurse Specialists • Physicians • Physician Assistants

Copyright : 04/20/2023

Adult ADHD Medications & The Recent Increase in Prevalence

There has been a lot of buzz about Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in the media lately. The number of adults seeking ADHD diagnosis and treatment has rapidly increased in the past 3 years and as a result, we now have a shortage of Adderall. However, it remains to be estimated that 80% of adults with ADHD are UNDIAGNOSED.

In this session for the Modern Clinician, you’ll understand:

  • Implicit Bias – are you harboring negative feelings about diagnosing and treating Adult ADHD, or whether Adult ADHD is real?
  • Neurobiology of ADHD – a brief and digestible, yet thorough update on our current understanding of pathophysiology of ADHD
  • Safely treating attention deficit symptoms with stimulants and non-stimulants
  • Medication Management: how to choose, start, taper, and monitor effectiveness

Program Information

Objectives

  1. Analyze the prevalence, pathophysiology, and manifestations of Adult ADHD.
  2. Anticipate the deficits in, and impacts of, Adult ADHD.
  3. Acknowledge any implicit bias and develop a position of compassion and empathy.
  4. Express confidence that you can diagnose and manage Adult ADHD.

Outline

Neuroanatomy and pathophysiology

  • The cortex, limbic system, and brain stem structures and functions
  • Genetics of ADHD and brain structures involved
  • Dopamine pathway
  • Norepinephrine pathway
  • Brain wave patterns – regulating alertness
Executive Function (EF)
  • Disorder of doing what you know
  • Elements of EF
  • Evolution of and innate development of EF
  • Deficits result in Impairments = Executive Dysfunction
  • Executive Dysfunction is situationally dependent
  • heterogeneity of impairments/symptoms
Assessment
  • DSM-V
  • A clinicians’ duty
  • Diagnosis rates, average ages and impacts of late diagnosis
  • Differential diagnosis and Diagnostic process
    • Rating scales
    • Getting input from collaterals
    • tips for differentiating diagnosis
Treatment
  • Guiding principles of treatment
  • Stimulants deep dive
    • Amphetamine
    • Methylphenidate
  • Non-stimulants deep dive
    • Alpha agonists
    • Norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors
    • Off-label medications
  • Benefits are addictive, combinations limited by side effects
    • A handy prescribing reference chart to use in practice
  • Micronutrients
  • Lifestyle and therapeutic interventions
    • Guiding principles and evidence-based recommendations
  • Comorbidities
    • MDD and treatment options
    • GAD and treatment options
    • ASD and treatment options

Target Audience

  • Nurses
  • Nurse Practitioners
  • Clinical Nurse Specialists
  • Physicians
  • Physician Assistants

Copyright : 04/21/2023

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

The evaluation and treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) has dramatically changed in the last several years. These changes have improved the quality of life for many patients. In this session, Dr. Peter Buch will be discussing the new and traditional therapies. He will highlight the pros and cons of each category. He will discuss how to select the “best” therapy for your patient. He will also be identifying when surgery is the best option. This session is a case-based, practical, very interactive and fun format geared toward those who have some experience in treating IBD patients.

Program Information

Objectives

  1. Distinguish Inflammatory Bowell Disease from Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
  2. Analyze the workup for Inflammatory Bowell Disease.
  3. Recognize the treatment categories for Inflammatory Bowel Disease.
  4. Discriminate the controversies surrounding Inflammatory Bowell Disease.

Outline

How to distinguish Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) form Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

  • Usefulness of “Alarm Signs”
  • How to distinguish Chron’s Disease from Ulcerative Colitis
  • Which one curable, which one treatable?
  • Smoking
  • Evaluation/prognosis
  • Extra intestinal manifestations
  • Goals of treatment
Medication Categories
  • 5 ASAs
  • Antibiotic use in Chron’s Disease
  • Steroids
    • Dose
    • Risks
    • Duration
    • Tricks of taper
  • Thiopurines
    • Risks/benefits
    • Monotherapy?
      • How to use TMTP testing
    • Monitoring for side effects
  • Methotrexate
  • Anti TNFs
    • Risks/benefits
    • Limitations
    • Comparing products
  • Vedolizumab
    • Indications/risks/benefits
  • Ustekinumab
    • Indications/risks/benefits
  • Tofacininub
    • Indications/risks/benefits
  • Ozanimod
    • Indications/risks/benefits
  • Upadacitinib
    • Indications/risks/benefits
    • Risankizumab-raa
      • Indications/risks/benefits
    • Biosimlars
      • What we know so far
Unanswered questions in IBD
  • What is the “best” medicine for my patient
  • Genomics? And other markers
  • Head to head studies mostly lacking
  • Who should receive combination therapy?
    • Risks/benefits
  • Should medications ever be stopped if pt doing well?
How successful is medical treatment?
  • Surgical alternatives

Target Audience

  • Nurses
  • Nurse Practitioners
  • Clinical Nurse Specialists
  • Physicians
  • Physician Assistants

Copyright : 04/21/2023

Dementia Medication Update

Dementia of any type is a chronic disease with progressive deterioration of cognition, function, and behavior. The prevalence is only expected to increase as the patient population ages. This will result in a considerable challenge to patients, families, caregivers and facilities. Knowing the pharmacological DO’s and DON’TS for those with dementia can change outcomes, but understanding what not to prescribe can be difficult. In this session, hear a Geriatrician’s approach to the newest diagnostics and treatments in dementia, screening for the pharmacological deliriants that contribute to dementia, and placing emphasis on deprescribing unnecessary medications.

Program Information

Objectives

  1. Evaluate drug choices based on dementia type.
  2. Determine tools to help in diagnosing common dementia types.
  3. Analyze common pharmacological deliriants.
  4. Determine the value of deprescribing in dementia care.

Outline

Delirium

  • The current algorithm of delirium
  • A simpler approach to delirium
The Importance of Screening for Depression

How Medications Can Confound the Picture

The Anticholinergic Burden Score

The Importance of Cognitive Screens
  • A screening test for all settings
Alzheimer’s Disease
  • The general hypothesis
  • The value of screening
  • The NEWEST biological definition of SDAT
  • LATE-NC – newly defined form of dementia

Target Audience

• Nurses • Nurse Practitioners • Clinical Nurse Specialists • Physicians • Physician Assistants

Copyright : 04/21/2023

Diabetes Medications: The Latest Treatments & Guidelines

Advancements in research and treatment for diabetes mellitus is exciting. With 9 classes of diabetes medications now available, there are a lot of options, but it can also be confusing to choose which medications are best to treat your patient with diabetes. Devising an individualized plan of care for each patient requires that your practice is up-to-date and based on the current evidence-based guidelines.  Tracey Long, PhD, MSN, MS, RN, APRN-BC, CDE, CNE, CCRN, will share her expertise on the pharmacological management in this evolving specialty.

Program Information

Objectives

  1. Differentiate between the nine currently available classes of medications to treat diabetes.
  2. Apply ADA and AACE practice guidelines for medication decision making.
  3. Describe side effects and effectiveness used for treatment of diabetes mellitus.
  4. Explain the use of combination therapy for treatment of chronic hyperglycemia.

Outline

Diabetes Medication Classes

  • Oral antihyperglycemics: alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, biguanides, DPP4-inhibitors, meglitinides, SGLT2 inhibitors, sulfonylureas, thiazolidinediones
  • Injectable antihyperglycemics (not insulin): amylin analogs, incretin mimetics, GLP-1 agonists
  • Insulins: rapid, regular, intermittent, long acting
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  • What has changed for 2022
  • Standards of care and diagnosing
  • Glycemic control algorithm
  • Guidelines for monotherapy and combination therapy
Comparison of Medication Side Effects
  • Medication decisions include side effects, organ effect, and adverse drug effects
Up-to-Date Prescription of Insulin
  • Insulin delivery systems: syringe, pen, pump, and inhaled insulin
  • Algorithm for adding/intensifying insulin
  • Patient education for storage, mixing and traveling
  • Multiple daily injections vs. continuous glucose monitoring

Target Audience

  • Nurses
  • Nurse Practitioners
  • Physicians
  • Physicians Assistants

Copyright : 03/25/2022

Complex Geropharmacy: Atypical Symptoms, Comorbidities & New Standards

Geropharmacy is both an art and a science. The confusion can lie between knowing when and how to separate the two. 

As you evaluate medication usage in the elderly, especially in terms of fall risk or cognitive impairment, a well-planned decision-making process makes a dramatic impact on outcomes.

Learn how the current body of science can demonstrate statistically significant benefits. That vital information is then coupled with the art of knowing your geriatric patients goals to prescribe/deprescribe on an individualized basis.  

Program Information

Objectives

  1. Appraise the risk factors for an adverse drug reaction. 
  2. Apply five key principles to deprescribe medications. 
  3. Distinguish between appropriate and inappropriate medication management of Alzheimer’s disease. 
  4. Develop best practice methods to avoid medications that contribute to Alzheimer's disease. 
  5. Evaluate the types of medications that statistically increase fall risk. 
  6. Plan your response once a medication has been identified that could be contributing to a patient’s falls. 

Outline

Geropharmacy 

  • Adverse drug reactions 
  • 5 principles to describe medications 
  • Medication adherence 
  • Impact from complementary and alternative medications 

Fall Risk, Cognition & Medication Use 

  • Cardiovascular medications 
  • Neurological medications 
  • Medications to treat peripheral disorders 
  • Psychotropic medications 
  • Treatments for insomnia 
  • Urinary incontinence treatments 
  • American Geriatrics Society recommendations 
  • Joint decision making with patient 

Target Audience

  • Nurses
  • Nurse Practitioners
  • Physicians
  • Physicians Assistants

Copyright : 02/04/2022

Prescribing Heart Failure Medications: The Latest Updates for Life-Saving Clinical Decisions

Heart Failure is a complex clinical syndrome. The heart failure diagnosis alone can scare even the most adept and proficient providers.  It is not uncommon to feel as though we don’t want to change the medications for fear of causing harm.

Years of research and collaboration amongst the most respected experts in the heart failure field have proven that neurohormonal dysregulation is what causes the decline of patients with heart failure. When it comes to the medicinal management of heart failure, utilizing guideline directed medical therapy appropriately is misunderstood. It is not merely a pump problem but rather a brain and pump problem. The indications, patient education, up-titration, vital sign parameters, and adjuvant therapies are very specific to the pathology of the failing heart. 

Program Information

Objectives

  1. Analyze neurohormonal dysregulation as the primary trigger for worsening heart failure. 
  2. Differentiate the indications for GDMT in heart failure vs. other cardiovascular comorbidities.  
  3. Determine how to concomitantly use available resources to optimize heart failure management. 
  4. Plan how to prescribe and up-titrate heart failure medications based on clinical criteria. 
  5. Appraise the effectiveness of prescribed therapies. 

Outline

Neurohormonal Dysregulation 

  • What is really causing the failure 
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  • Shutting it down 

Guideline Directed Medical Therapy (GDMT)  

  • The VIM’s:  Beta adrenergic blockers  
  • The VIM’s:  ACEi/ ARB’s 
  • The VIM’s:  Where’s ALDO? 
  • The VIM’s:  The new player:  ARNI 
  • The VIM’s: SGLT2 inhibition 

What do they each do? 

  • Critical importance of appropriate integration 
  • Tips and tricks for patient tolerance 
  • Monitoring 

The VIM’s:  Stay in the Loop with Diuretics 

  • Do HF patients ALWAYs need diuretics? 
  • Subclasses of diuretics to consider 
  • Thiazides and thiazide-like diuretics 
  • Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors 
  • Potassium-sparing diuretics 
  • Osmotic diuretics 

Non-Pharmacologic Interventions for Heart Failure Management 

  • Electrophysiology involvement 
    • ICD’s 
    • Pacemakers 
    • BiV-ICD 
  • PA pressure system 
    • Using monitoring to up-titrate GDMT 
  • Social media as patient support 
  • Support groups for patients with heart failure 

Treatment Options   

  • Referral to HF specialist 
  • Treating the cause 
  • LVAD 
  • Cardiac transplantation

Target Audience

  • Nurses
  • Nurse Practitioners
  • Pharmacists
  • Physicians
  • Physician Assistants

Copyright : 05/20/2022

Weight Loss Medications: Evaluate Evidence, Risk & Cost for Prescriptive Decisions

You’ve seen it too….

With the goal of losing weight, patients will try endless efforts and gimmicks. As providers, we have explained the importance of maintaining a healthy weight and lifestyle. These conversations can lead to frustrations, for everyone involved.

Studies show a 5-7% weight loss with behavior changes (a mere 10-15 pounds for a 200-pound person). Often weight loss efforts lead to weight cycling, which carries documented health risks and often leads to higher than initial weights. In the past there have been a lot of assumptions about the cause of weight being more behavioral. Newer evidence supports a more genetic, environmental, and biologic relationship with weight.

However, many healthcare providers continue to recommend behavior changes for weight loss, despite documented research showing not only poor success with those tactics but great harm including weight stigma, decreased utilization or delay in medical care, repeated weight loss and regain/weight cycling, reduced self-esteem/motivation, eating disorders, stress, and depression. All of which have been shown to contribute negatively to overall health.

The seriousness of this situation has led both patients and providers to look at pharmacological interventions to manage weight. These options have significant cost and risk that need to be carefully considered against the potential benefits. You have an incredible opportunity to learn from Laurie Klipfel, RN, MSN, ANP-BC, CDCES, WCC, as she breaks down the very latest evidence supported weight loss medication options.

Imagine being able to support the lasting weight loss outcomes you’ve been hoping patients would experience!  Purchase today!

Program Information

Objectives

  1. Apply the latest evidence to select current pharmacological options for weight loss in patients.
  2. Analyze the benefit vs cost and risk of the various weight loss medication options available today.
  3. Evaluate the effect on weight for medications intended to treat other ailments such as hypertension, diabetes, or depression.
  4. Determine benefits of focusing on outcomes such as health/longevity, rather than weight.
  5. Choose therapies that best meet individual needs and provide effective support.
  6. Investigate how big business can influence standards/recommendations for healthcare providers regarding weight loss options.
  7. Develop techniques for successful motivational interviewing.

Outline

Current Non-Pharmacological Options

“Healthy” Diets

  • Dash diet
  • Mediterranean diet
  • Paleo
  • Atkins
  • Keto
  • Plant-based diet
  • Commercially prepared meals
  • Commercial weight loss plans
Activity
  • Cardio/aerobic
  • Resistance training/anerobic
  • Stretch/flexibility
  • Precautions

Stress management
Sleep hygiene
Surgical options
Motivational techniques to maintain healthy habits and avoiding fads

Pharmacological Options for Weight Loss

Older Medications Taken Off the Market Due to Complications

  • Sibutramine
  • Fenfluramine/phentermine “fen-phen”
  • Lorcaserin
  • Limitations/bias of older recommendations

FDA Approved Medications for Weight Loss (Effectiveness, Dosage, Side Effects, Warnings, Cost)

  • Orlistat
  • Phentermine/topiramate
  • Naltrexone/buproprion
  • Liraglultide
  • Semaglutide
  • Setmelanotide (only approved for 3 rare genetic conditions)

Medications Approved for Short Term Use Only (12 weeks)

  • Phentermine
  • Benzphetamine
  • Diethylpropion
  • Phendimetrazine

Medications Used Off Label for Weight Loss

  • A drug approved for treating a different medical problem
  • Two or more drugs at the same time
  • A drug for a longer time period than approved by the FDA

“Food Supplements” Not Under FDA Guidelines

Potential Mechanisms of Action for Future Medications

  • Regulating several gut hormones at the same time
  • Targeting specific genes that cause obesity
  • Allowing people to lose body fat without losing muscle during weight loss
  • Changing bacteria in the gut to control weight

Medications Used for Other Conditions that Affect Weight

  • Diabetes medications
  • Hypertension medications
  • Psychiatric medications

Target Audience

  • Nurse Practitioners
  • Clinical Nurse Specialists
  • Nurses
  • Physician Assistants
  • Pharmacists
  • Dietitians
  • Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialists

Copyright : 11/10/2022

Antiseizure Medications: Prescribing for Effectiveness

Join Filissa M Caserta MSN, ACNP-BC, CNRN, for an important antiseizure medication update. The purpose of this class is to increase your competence to: manage patients that have a known seizure disorder who are on antiseizure medications, identify patients at risk for seizures and understand the impact of concurrent conditions (co-morbidities) on seizure frequency and antiseizure medication effectiveness.

Program Information

Objectives

  1. Evaluate the pharmacology of the most common antiseizure medications. 
  2. Choose the most appropriate first line antiseizure medication for focal onset seizures. 
  3. Plan for the most common side effects of antiseizure medications.  
  4. Determine which antiseizure medications require therapeutic monitoring. 
  5. Assess the impact of pregnancy on seizure frequency.  

Outline

Antiseizure Medications  

  • Classification  
  • Pharmacology 
  • Side effects  
  • Interactions  
  • Toxicities 

Recommended Medications by Seizure Type 

  • Focal onset  
  • Generalized 

Special Considerations 

  • Therapeutic monitoring 
  • Alcohol consumption 
  • Non-adherence  
  • Geriatric patients 
  • Women (contraception and pregnancy)  
  • Driving  

Target Audience

  • Nurses
  • Nurse Practitioners
  • Physicians
  • Physicians Assistants

Copyright : 02/15/2022

Updates for Treating Depression: Link the Mechanism of Action to the Clinical Target

You see it in your practice setting, too.  Depressive disorders are affecting patients, often in very significant ways.  With almost 60% of mental health care delivery taking place in the primary care setting and most antidepressant prescriptions being written by providers who are not mental health providers, it is essential you are up-to-date to optimally recognize and manage depression.  

JeanAnne Johnson Talbert, DHA, APRN-BC, FNP, PMHNP, an expert in the pharmacological treatment of mental illnesses will examine strategies to combat treatment resistant depression, share how you can link the mechanism of action to the clinical target for patient outcomes and highlight new medication options available. 

Program Information

Objectives

  1. Analyze the neurochemical basis of unipolar depression. 
  2. Determine the mechanism of action, indications, and adverse effects of therapeutic agents used to treat unipolar depression. 
  3. Plan for treatment of unipolar depression by linking the mechanisms of action to the clinical targets to optimize response. 
  4. Choose prescriptive options for treatment resistant depression, including augmentation and switching antidepressants. 
  5. Differentiate between novel and evolving antidepressant agents.

Outline

Diagnostic Criteria  

  • Unipolar depression  
  • Differentiating from bipolar depression 

Neurochemical Changes that Occur in Depression  

  • Selection of antidepressants based upon how they work in the brain 
  • Updates on the different classes of antidepressants:  SSRIs, SNRIs, TCA, MAOI, others 

 
Prescribing Best Practices 

  • Tips on prescribing, dosing, titrating, and discontinuing 
  • How to best augment or make a change to the antidepressant treatment plan  
  • Next steps when the current medication is not providing remission 

New Agents for the Treatment of Unipolar Depression 

  • Mechanism of action 
  • How they are used 
  • Potential adverse effects 

Target Audience

  • Nurses
  • Nurse Practitioners
  • Pharmacists
  • Physicians
  • Physician Assistants

Copyright : 05/20/2022

Pharmacology of Herbal Therapeutics

Herbal supplements and nutraceuticals are increasingly used by patients to treat common conditions and symptoms. Vanessa Ruiz, ND, RN-BSN, will share from her expertise on their common uses, mechanism of actions, medication interactions, side effects and pharmacokinetic drug-herb interactions. She will discuss supplement product quality and effectiveness in clinical practice. Commonly used supplements such as Black Cohosh, Gingko, Valerian and more will be discussed. After completing this training, you will gain knowledge of integrative treatment in practice and how to incorporate safely in herbs in your treatment plans.

Program Information

Objectives

  1. Analyze commonly used medicinal herbs. 
  2. Assess potential drug-to-herb interactions. 
  3. Evaluate pharmacological actions and therapeutics of commonly used herbal medicines. 
  4. Determine appropriate use and indications for herbal medicines and supplementation in the practice. 
  5. Formulate an integrative plan for common patient care ailments. 

Outline

  • Quality, Safety of Supplementation and Herbs  
  • Cardiovascular Support  
  • Anti-inflammatory Herbs and Pain Management 
  • Gastrointestinal Support   
  • Endocrine Support  
  • Pulmonary Support  
  • Immune System Focused Herbs  
  • Common Herbs for Brain Health and Mood  

Target Audience

  • Nurses
  • Nurse Practitioners
  • Physicians
  • Physicians Assistants

Copyright : 02/09/2022