Gastroenterology Nursing CEU Courses

• Identify the current problem and contributing factors of obesity in the U.S.
• Describe the management and treatment options for obesity.

• Identify three common eating disorders.
• Recognize the health risks of three common eating disorders.
• Recall treatment options for three common eating disorders.

• Discuss the risk factors, transmission, and management of C. difficile.
• Name four ways the patient-to-patient spread of C. difficile can be prevented.

Von Willebrand disease (vWD) is the most common inherited genetic bleeding disorder, yet it is not well known or understood among the public or healthcare providers. Von Willebrand factor (vWF) is a protein that is essential for platelet aggregation and clotting. A low vWF can lead to heavy or prolonged bleeding. This most commonly appears as complaints of menorrhagia (i.e., heavy menstrual bleeding), prolonged bleeding after minor injuries, or gum bleeding. The clinician can advocate for proper diagnosis and treatment, as well as prevent adverse events by being aware of the presenting signs and types of the disorder, recognizing that many patients are asymptomatic, and understanding when a hematology consultation is warranted.

Since 2000, the epidemiology of Clostridioides (formerly Clostridium) difficile infection (CDI) has changed with significant increases in incidence and severity. Recently overall incidence of CDI and healthcare-associated CDI has decreased while community-associated CDI has not. CDI, once considered to be exclusively a hospital-acquired infection, had nearly 50% community-associated cases in 2017. Infections in those considered low risk (peripartum women, children, and young healthy adults) have increased. Many infected patients lack the usual predisposing CDI risk factors. This course discusses risk factors related to emergence of community CDI, ways community-associated CDIs are transmitted, and current prevention and treatment guidelines of CDI.

Endoscopies are minimally invasive procedures performed to diagnose and treat abnormalities of the internal structures of the body. These procedures are extensively used to investigate symptoms of GI dysfunction and treat biopsy-proven diseases of the GI tract occurring in the esophagus, stomach, small bowel, and large intestine. This educational activity will discuss the importance of procedures that have become commonplace in our modern medical environment as technology has advanced to meet recognized needs. The goal of this educational program is to provide nurses in acute and outpatient settings with knowledge about endoscopies.

Bleeding in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract happens for a variety of reasons. It may be occult or obvious and can occur anywhere between the throat and the rectum. It can be difficult to detect until a patient has lost a significant amount of blood. A useful way to differentiate the various etiologies of GI bleeding is to separate the causes that originate in the upper GI tract from those that originate in the lower GI tract. To ensure patients receive appropriate and life-saving care, nurses must understand not only the causes but also the warning signs and possible consequences of GI bleeding. This course describes how to recognize and manage the most common causes of upper and lower GI bleeding.

According to a 2007 Institute of Medicine report, an astonishing 380,000 to 450,000 preventable adverse drug events take place in hospitals annually, causing patients to suffer injury or death. As much as $3.5 billion is spent annually on treatment of these adverse events. This has become not only a quality issue but a financial issue as well, raising concern in the healthcare community and regulatory organizations. This educational activity will review common drug-drug and drug-food interactions, phases of pharmacokinetics, and interventions to improve patient safety and outcomes.