Pathophysiology: The Hepatobiliary System

Course Overview
Understanding the pathophysiology of the hepatobiliary system is an important piece of patient care. Many key assessments and treatments should be completed however, if the pathophysiology is not understood, missed opportunities with assessments and patient care management could be missed. The purpose of this course is to provide nurses with increased knowledge of key definitions and pathophysiology, laboratory interpretation, and management of conditions arising in the hepatobiliary system.

Learning Outcomes 
Upon the completion of this course, the learner should be able to:

• Define key terms associated with hepatobiliary diagnostic procedures, treatment, and disease processes.
• Identify risk factors associated with the development of hepatobiliary disorders.
• Describe the pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, and nursing management of hepatobiliary system disease processes.
• Identify the components of a complete hepatobiliary physical assessment.
• Use assessment parameters appropriate for determining the characteristics and severity of the major symptoms of hepatobiliary dysfunction.
• Apply the nursing process (assessment, goal setting, planning, intervening, evaluating) as it relates to hepatobiliary diseases and disorders.
• Identify the clinical significances and related nursing responsibility in the diagnostic assessment of the patient with a hepatobiliary disorder.
• Distinguish between immediate and long-term treatment measures for hepatobiliary dysfunction.
• Describe the complications, clinical manifestations and nursing management of inflammatory conditions, infectious, traumatic, multifactorial causes, neoplastic, obstructive, and postsurgical problems related to the hepatobiliary system.
• Describe nursing management and patient education for patients who are receiving treatment of hepatobiliary disorders.
• Describe findings in the medical history of the patient that offer an etiological explanation for the patient's hepatobiliary health disruption.
• Discuss nursing management and patient education in the pre- and post-operative care of patients undergoing hepatobiliary system surgeries.
• Explain the signs and symptoms of hepatobiliary disease, the progression of the disease, the benefits and limitations of treatments, and how to recognize and treat exacerbations.
• Prioritize nursing interventions associated with hepatobiliary health disorders.
• Interpret laboratory measurements for diagnostic evaluation of hepatobiliary diseases.
• Discuss the importance of lifestyle changes for patients with hepatobiliary disorders.
• Identify the impact of comorbidity disorders related to cardiovascular, respiratory, neurologic, renal, integumentary, endocrine and gastrointestinal interactions with hepatobiliary diseases.
• Describe the biopsychosocial implications of the convalescing and rehabilitation patient with a hepatobiliary disorder.
• Discuss pharmacological and dietary interventions in the treatment of patients with hepatobiliary disorders.

About the Authors/Presenters
Jane C. Norman, RN, MSN, CNE, PhD, received her undergraduate education at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville campus. There she completed a double major in Sociology and English. She completed an Associate of Science in Nursing at the University of Tennessee, Nashville campus and began her nursing career at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Jane received her Masters in Medical-Surgical Nursing from Vanderbilt University. In 1978, she took her first faculty position and served as program director for an associate degree program. In 1982, she received her PhD in Higher Education Administration from Peabody College of Vanderbilt University. In 1988, Dr. Norman took a position at Tennessee State University. There she has achieved tenure and full professor status. She is a member of Sigma Theta Tau National Nursing Honors Society. In 2005, she began her current position as Director of the Masters of Science in Nursing Program.

Mary Franks, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner and NetCE Nurse Planner. She works as a Nurse Division Planner for NetCE and a per diem nurse practitioner in urgent care in Central Illinois. Mary graduated with her Associate’s degree in nursing from Carl Sandburg College, her BSN from OSF Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing in 2013, and her MSN with a focus on nursing education from Chamberlain University in 2017. She received a second master's degree in nursing as a Family Nurse Practitioner from Chamberlain University in 2019. She is an adjunct faculty member for a local university in Central Illinois in the MSN FNP program. Her previous nursing experience includes emergency/trauma nursing, critical care nursing, surgery, pediatrics, and urgent care. As a nurse practitioner, she has practiced as a primary care provider for long-term care facilities and school-based health services. She enjoys caring for minor illnesses and injuries, prevention of disease processes, health, and wellness. In her spare time, she stays busy with her two children and husband, coaching baseball, staying active with her own personal fitness journey, and cooking. She is a member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and the Illinois Society of Advanced Practice Nursing, for which she is a member of the bylaws committee. 

Audience/Accreditations and Approvals 
TRC Healthcare/ NetCE 
In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by TRC Healthcare/ NetCE. TRC Healthcare/NetCE is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team. 
This course is designed for the following healthcare professions (select your profession for details): 
Nursing

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