Free Nursing CEU Courses

Influenza: Recognition, Treatment and Red Flags

Every year approximately 5-20% of the population will fall ill with seasonal influenza. 200,000 of those will become ill enough to require hospitalization. In recent years H1N1 was responsible for an unprecedented number of deaths among young, healthy adults. It is imperative that nurses are able to recognize red flags and symptoms of serious illness related to seasonal influenza. Additionally, it is important that nurses understand the importance of early treatment per CDC guidelines and the limitations of rapid influenza testing. In this course, we will discuss these topics and more!

The One Hour Sepsis Bundle: How to Act in 60 Minutes

Sepsis is now the # 1 killer of hospitalized patients in America. Worldwide it is the # 1 cause of pediatric deaths, especially in developing countries. Strategies to reduce mortality have been successful in decreasing mortality and the Surviving Sepsis Campaign has been at the forefront of the war against sepsis. In 2018 the Surviving Sepsis Campaign changed the goal timeframe for initiating interventions from 3/6 hours to 1 hour. In this module, we will discuss the new bundle and strategies to reduce treatment time and ensure standardization.

Chest Tubes 101

Chest tube placement is a common procedure in many hospitals, yet nurses consistently rank them as one of the most overwhelming drains to care for. A malfunction in a chest tube can be deadly for a patient in a matter of seconds. Many hospitals have recognized them as a common source of error and patient harm. For these reasons it is imperative that nurses understand how chest tubes function and how to care for them. In this course, we will discuss the anatomy, indications, and care of chest tubes.

Baby Friendly Hospitals: How to Promote Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is a natural biological process that has many benefits for human infants, children, and mothers. The promotion and preservation of successful breastfeeding during the first 2 years of life and beyond is a public health issue that can have long-term positive effects on global health and survival, nutrition goals, as well as the economy and environment. In this course, we will discuss strategies that nurses can use to promote successful breastfeeding based on CDC guidelines and other relevant evidence.

Childhood Asthma: Prevention and Treatment

It has been said that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. This adage holds more true in asthma than in most conditions. Asthma is one of the most prevalent chronic illnesses in children. Millions of hospital admissions, primary care office appointments, and missed school days each year are directly related to asthma. Preventing asthma-triggering events and practicing continuous maintenance therapies can significantly reduce the amount of disruption in a child’s life due to asthma symptoms. In this course, we will explore the asthma disease process, triggers, and common therapeutic management with a particular focus on prevention strategies for asthma exacerbation.

Fluid Resuscitation in Sepsis: How Much and What Kind?

Fluid resuscitation is a cornerstone of sepsis therapy. Everyone agrees that patients with sepsis need fluids, but the agreements end there. Crystalloid or colloid? 30ml/kg or end-point based? How do we assess the efficacy of fluid resuscitation in sepsis? In this course, we will discuss all of this and more!

Special Needs Children: How To Care For Our Most Fragile Patients

In this course, we will discuss strategies and techniques used to facilitate nursing and medical care in special needs children. This population of patients is extremely rewarding to care for, but they also have complexity that challenges medical staff on a daily basis. Variations in pain expression, verbal ability, physical dissimilarities, and cognitive deficits coupled with potentially anxious or knowledge impaired caregivers are just some of the things that these patients may present with. Having an improved knowledge base regarding these special types of patients will improve health care’s ability to provide the best care. In this course, we will discuss strategies used to overcome these barriers and provide high-quality care to special needs children.

Caring for Pediatric Patients: Developmentally Appropriate Interventions and Techniques

The pediatric population presents unique challenges to nurses. The expert pediatric nurse recognizes that the developmental stage plays a pivotal role in the approach of each child. In this course, we will discuss how to care for children of each developmental stage, including expert tips and tricks for pediatric nurses.

Liver Transplant: Beyond The Basics

The first liver transplant was performed in 1967 by Dr. Thomas Starzl. Today, liver disease is the 12th most common cause of death. Liver transplant remains the last treatment option for patients with end-stage liver disease. In this course, we will discuss all things liver transplant. You will come away from this course with a better understanding of the process of transplantation as well as the long-term implications.

Management of Patients with Acute Coagulopathies (Video Series)

Alterations in clotting homeostasis can cause both excessive blood loss and clotting. In this course, we will discuss three of the most common causes of acute coagulopathies in hospitalized patients. We will focus on understanding the presentation, natural history, and nursing care of these patients.

End of Life Care for Geriatric Patients

End-of-life care is one of the most important roles of the nurse. There is no time more vulnerable nor critical for patients and families. As Americans age at a rapid pace, end-of-life care has become and will remain a major role of any nurse working within the hospital setting, and has even been integrated into many palliative care settings. In this course, we will discuss some of the major considerations all nurses should be aware of when providing end-of-life care. This course is specific to geriatric patients but can be applied to patients of any age in any setting, as many of the principles remain the same.

Coronavirus: Everything Nurses Need to Know

The outbreak of coronavirus and its slow spread into the United States has caused panic throughout the world. As a healthcare provider, you should be sure to keep yourself informed with the latest news regarding this epidemic and prepare yourself for the possibility of encountering it in your workplace. Here’s everything you need to know about this group of viruses, the virus that’s currently spreading around the globe, and how it’s diagnosed and treated.

Vaping: A Growing Trend with Serious Health Implications

Vaping is commonly seen as an alternative to traditional cigarette smoking. The public at large commonly views vaping as a potentially healthier or less harmful cigarette substitute. However, the effects of vaping are not well studied and can be unpredictable. In this course, we will discuss the known and unknown effects of vaping on the human body and health.

Prone Positioning in ARDS: How To Do It Right

Acute respiratory distress syndrome is a rapidly progressive and often fatal condition with a mortality rate of >50%. ARDS is encountered by nurses in all hospitals settings- from small rural hospitals to large urban centers. Patients may quickly become too unstable for transport, therefore it is imperative that nurses are familiar with ARDS therapies, including prone positioning. In this module, we will discuss ARDS and the use of prone positioning in depth.

Drains: Everything You Need to Know

Drains are often placed in patients to allow for drainage of a site. The most common indication for drains is to evacuate abscesses/infections. Nurses caring for patients with drains are often intimidated and overwhelmed. In this CE course, you will learn about drain management and how to care for patients with drains.

Opiates: How nurses can help curb the epidemic

130 Americans die every day due to opiate overdoses. These occur from both illicit and prescribed users of opiates. In recent years the opiate epidemic has become a mainstream health issue and was brought to center stage when the President of the United States declared the opiate crisis a  public health emergency. The current crisis is a combination of both licit and prescribed users, but the root of the issue remains ease of access for opiate drugs and synthetics. Nurses can play a pivotal role in curbing the epidemic by being knowledgeable about opiate use disorders, the risks of opiates, and alternatives for pain control. Nurses can use the knowledge in this course to help change the course of patients and reduce the risk of opiates.

Care of the Aortic Stenosis Patient Undergoing Transaortic Valve Replacement (TAVR)

Aortic stenosis is the second most common valvular heart disease in the Western world, and it is usually diagnosed after the age of sixty-five. With a burgeoning elderly population in the U.S., it is estimated that the number of Americans over the age of sixty-five will double by the year 2060 (2). Therefore, having a full understanding of aortic stenosis and its effects on the body is essential to provide care for patients undergoing a transaortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedure. In this course, we will discuss the relevant anatomy pertaining to the TAVR procedure, indications and contra-indications, and the post-operative care of patients undergoing the TAVR procedure.

Culturally Competent Care for LGBTQ Patients

LGBTQ patients may experience healthcare disparities due to multiple factors, including a lack of provider knowledge. In this course, we will discuss how to deliver culturally competent LGBTQ care.

Nursing Documentation 101: How to Guard Your License

Documenting is at best a useful tool for communication and at worst a necessary evil. It is well-known that documenting is one of the most tedious aspects of bedside nursing. It takes time away from patient care and may be used for (or against) you in court. In this CE module, we will learn how to document properly. Proper documentation is essential for defense against claims and continuity/quality of care in nursing.

Measles: The Forgotten Virus is Making a Comeback

Measles (Rubeola) is an infectious virus that predominantly affects children. It can have an effect on many systems leading to life-threatening pneumonia and/or encephalitis. Many healthcare practitioners are inexperienced with the disease as it was rare in the U.S. prior to the current anti-vaccination movement. In this course, we will discuss the diagnosis and treatment of Measles. We will discuss strategies used to educate families so that they may make an educated vaccination decision.

2021 Comprehensive Nursing Update Course (30 Contact Hours)

In this course, we will cover a variety of nursing topics which are listed in the course outline below. This course is appropriate for both RNs and LPNs. Upon completion of this single module, you will receive a certificate for 30 contact hours.