Bloodborne pathogens present a risk in clinical, medical, and related settings and that’s why it’s important to train all employees on safety around blood and exposure hazards.

Although a routine part of providing nursing care, administering medications should never be a casual practice as the potential for serious harm even life endangerment can easily result from an error. This is particularly true when administering injectable medications.

One of the biggest responsibilities of nurses today involves safe medication administration practices. Nurses, and others authorized to administer medications not only must have the knowledge base about the drugs they are delivering, but also have the skill to administer them appropriately.

Nurses are one of the most vital parts of the team involved in medication safety as they are charged with administering the drugs. This means they are the last stop, the place where if an error has been made before hand it can be caught and harm to the patient averted.

Maintaining airway patency and preventing infection are two primary concerns when providing care to the patient with a tracheostomy tube. Other needs are caring for the stoma, providing some form of effective communication, and providing emotional support.

The cardiovascular system is the first body system described in this Anatomy and Physiology series. This series is a quick-paced and engaging basic introduction to anatomy and physiology appropriate for students in high school, junior college, vocational schools and for nursing assistants.

The digestive system is the next body system in this Anatomy and Physiology series. This series is a quick-paced and engaging basic introduction to anatomy and physiology appropriate for students in high school, junior college, vocational schools and for nursing assistants.

This program provides a basic introduction to the components of the endocrine system appropriate for high-school students, junior college and vocational schools.

This program provides basic information on the skin and other components and functions of the integumentary system.

This program provides information on the three types of muscles, their functions and how they work.

This program provides a basic introduction to the components of the nervous system appropriate for high-school students, junior college and vocational schools.

This program provides a basic introduction to the organs and functions of the reproductive system.

This program provides a quick-paced, basic introduction to the components of the respiratory system.

This program provides a basic introduction to the components of the skeletal system appropriate for high-school students, junior college and vocational schools.

This program provides a quick-paced, basic introduction to the components of the urinary system.

Since the advent of penicillin in the 1940s, medications have played an important role in the treatment of infectious diseases. Initially focused on the development and use of antibiotics to treat bacterial infections, in recent decades, the focus has broadened to include antifungal and antiviral agents. Because nurses are frequently called upon to administer anti-infective agents, this series was developed to provide the information they need to recognize the signs and symptoms of infection, the medications typically used in treatment and the associated precautions and side effects.

Since the advent of penicillin in the 1940s, medications have played an important role in the treatment of infectious diseases. Initially focused on the development and use of antibiotics to treat bacterial infections, in recent decades, the focus has broadened to include antifungal and antiviral agents.

Since the advent of penicillin in the 1940s, medications have played an important role in the treatment of infectious diseases. Initially focused on the development and use of antibiotics to treat bacterial infections, in recent decades, the focus has broadened to include antifungal and antiviral agents.

Since the advent of penicillin in the 1940s, medications have played an important role in the treatment of infectious diseases. Initially focused on the development and use of antibiotics to treat bacterial infections, in recent decades, the focus has broadened to include antifungal and antiviral agents.

Since the advent of penicillin in the 1940s, medications have played an important role in the treatment of infectious diseases. Initially focused on the development and use of antibiotics to treat bacterial infections, in recent decades, the focus has broadened to include antifungal and antiviral agents.

Since the advent of penicillin in the 1940s, medications have played an important role in the treatment of infectious diseases. Initially focused on the development and use of antibiotics to treat bacterial infections, in recent decades, the focus has broadened to include antifungal and antiviral agents. Because nurses are frequently called upon to administer anti-infective agents, this series was developed to provide the information they need to recognize the signs and symptoms of infection, the medications typically used in treatment and the associated precautions and side effects.

Preventing the transmission of infective organisms is an important aspect of healthcare and a major concern for all nurses. This series looks at ways in which this transmission takes place and actions the nurse must perform to prevent this from occurring.

Preventing the transmission of infective organisms is an important aspect of healthcare and a major concern for all nurses. This series looks at ways in which this transmission takes place and actions the nurse must perform to prevent this from occurring.

Preventing the transmission of infective organisms is an important aspect of healthcare and a major concern for all nurses. This series looks at ways in which this transmission takes place and actions the nurse must perform to prevent this from occurring.

Preventing the transmission of infective organisms is an important aspect of healthcare and a major concern for all nurses. This is particularly critical in the OR environment since infection is the most common complication experienced during post-operative wound healing.

Preventing the transmission of infective organisms is an important aspect of healthcare and a major concern for all nurses. This is particularly critical in the OR environment since infection is the most common complication experienced during post-operative wound healing.

Preventing the transmission of infective organisms is an important aspect of healthcare and a major concern for all nurses. This is particularly critical in the OR environment since infection is the most common complication experienced during post-operative wound healing.

Preventing the transmission of infective organisms is an important aspect of healthcare and a major concern for all nurses. This is particularly critical in the OR environment since infection is the most common complication experienced during post-operative wound healing.

Newborns have unique anatomy and physiologic characteristics that need to be assessed at birth. Nurses with limited or no experience in the obstetrical environment need to be made aware of these unique characteristics in order to perform a competent evaluation of a newborn's health.

Newborns have unique anatomy and physiologic characteristics that need to be assessed at birth. Nurses with limited or no experience in the obstetrical environment need to be made aware of these unique characteristics in order to perform a competent evaluation of a newborn's health.

Newborns have unique anatomy and physiologic characteristics that need to be assessed at birth. Nurses with limited or no experience in the obstetrical environment need to be made aware of these unique characteristics in order to perform a competent evaluation of a newborn's health.

Newborns have unique anatomy and physiologic characteristics that need to be assessed at birth. Nurses with limited or no experience in the obstetrical environment need to be made aware of these unique characteristics in order to perform a competent evaluation of a newborn's health.

Newborns have unique anatomy and physiologic characteristics that need to be assessed at birth. Nurses with limited or no experience in the obstetrical environment need to be made aware of these unique characteristics in order to perform a competent evaluation of a newborn's health.

Listening to breath sounds can reveal important diagnostic information about many health conditions related to respiratory function. Because of this, auscultation of the lungs is one of the most valuable clinical assessment skills for caregivers to develop.

Listening to breath sounds can reveal important diagnostic information about many health conditions related to respiratory function. Because of this, auscultation of the lungs is one of the most valuable clinical assessment skills for caregivers to develop.

This program has been updated to reflect practice change regarding inflation of catheter retention balloons prior to insertion of an indwelling urethral catheter. While this was once standard practice and remains common, it has become controversial and is no longer performed in many facilities.

In a clinical environment, nurses are often called upon to calculate medication dosages in both solid and liquid forms using basic mathematical principles to calculate the correct dosage.

This course provides an overview of administering oxygen to patients in clinical and home settings.

Blood is the elixir of life. With every beat of the heart, blood circulates through the vessels of the body bringing the cells life-sustaining oxygen, nutrients, and hormones while removing waste products that can be toxic. This process continues second after second, minute after minute, day after day throughout life.

Phlebotomy is the collection of blood, which is done to assess person s state of health, diagnose pathology, treat certain hematologic diseases, and for the collection of blood products like plasma. It can be performed by many healthcare professionals, including physicians, nurses, phlebotomists, and other providers.

Venipuncture is more than just putting a needle into a patient s arm and drawing blood. Many clients are adults who are in good health, have visible veins, and are unafraid of the procedure to have their blood sample obtained for testing. However, that is not always the case.

Cardiac auscultation provides information about the rate and rhythm of the heart, valve function and possible anatomical defects. It requires a methodical approach with careful attention to the sounds produced during the cardiac cycle. Nurses providing direct patient care need to develop the skills to recognize normal heart sounds and to differentiate these from abnormal heart sounds and murmurs.

Cardiac auscultation provides information about the rate and rhythm of the heart, valve function and possible anatomical defects. It requires a methodical approach with careful attention to the sounds produced during the cardiac cycle. Nurses providing direct patient care need to develop the skills to recognize normal heart sounds and to differentiate these from abnormal heart sounds and murmurs.

Cardiac auscultation provides information about the rate and rhythm of the heart, valve functioning and possible anatomical defects. It requires knowledge of what heart sounds are normal and a methodical approach with careful attention to the sounds produced during the cardiac cycle.

Familiarity with normal and abnormal heart sounds provides the foundation for many clinical assessments. This program focuses on cardiac auscultation, or listening to the sounds produced by the heart, a skill that can be lost without review and practice. It will review the anatomy and physiology of the heart and the sounds it produces as it works.

This program provides nurses and other healthcare professionals with a thorough understanding of auscultation techniques and practices, including the basic process of cardiac auscultation, identifying landmarks where cardiac sounds can best be heard, proper positioning of the patient and how to record observations.

Ostomy surgery is a life-changing event. It is the job and function of the healthcare professional caring for the post-ostomy patient to provide care for the stoma. However, the healthcare professional should also understand that he/she plays a pivotal role in helping the patient with overwhelming emotions that often go along with ostomy.

Healthcare professionals have to deal with all types of patients and situations that are difficult. Yet one of the most disturbing things they have to encounter is the abuse of an innocent child. This is especially challenging when they have to interview the parent or caregiver they believe is responsible for the maltreatment.

Usually placed by a nurse, nasogastric tubes are found in a wide variety of clinical situations due to their versatility and ease of use for both diagnostic and therapeutic treatment of patients. In a similar way, the use of gastrostomy tubes for long term feeding and other treatments has become common and made the replacement of balloon gastrostomy tubes an increasingly routine nursing procedure.

Usually placed by a nurse, nasogastric tubes are found in a wide variety of clinical situations due to their versatility and ease of use for both diagnostic and therapeutic treatment of patients. In a similar way, the use of gastrostomy tubes for long term feeding and other treatments has become common and made the replacement of balloon gastrostomy tubes an increasingly routine nursing procedure.