The Itch That Wouldn’t Stop: When Skin Signals Something Deeper
Course Overview
This continuing education activity explores a diagnostically challenging case of persistent pruritus that ultimately revealed an underlying malignancy. Through the narrative of a patient whose symptoms defied dermatologic explanation, learners will examine the clinical presentation and pathophysiology of paraneoplastic pruritus. The course emphasizes the importance of comprehensive assessment, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the nurse’s role in identifying atypical symptom patterns that may indicate systemic disease. Participants will gain practical strategies for escalating care and advocating for further diagnostic evaluation when standard treatments prove ineffective.
Listen, Learn, and Earn CE Hours with this podcast course. Available on Apple, Spotify, and other podcast apps.
Learning Outcomes
Upon the completion of this course, the learner should be able to:
- Identify clinical signs and risk factors associated with paraneoplastic pruritus.
- Explain the pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying paraneoplastic syndromes and their dermatologic manifestations.
- Apply a systems-based approach to assessing chronic pruritus in the absence of primary skin findings.
- Advocate for diagnostic escalation and interdisciplinary evaluation when persistent symptoms are unexplained by routine testing.
- Interpret the implications of early symptom recognition on cancer detection and patient outcomes.
About the Author/Presenter
Mike Linares MSN, RN has over 15 years of experience in healthcare, including work as a Registered Nurse, EMT and paramedic. After a challenging nursing school experience he was motivated to create and found SimpleNursing, a platform dedicated to providing accessible and effective study resources for nursing students. Having helped over 1 million students become nurses, he continues to focus his efforts on educating and inspiring the next generation of nurses.
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
If you require special accommodations, please contact Colibri Healthcare Support by clicking here: Contact Us
