Influenza: A Comprehensive Review
Course Overview
Because medications to treat acute illness due to influenza are available, there is a tendency to accept the existence of influenza and to forget the fact that 49,000 Americans die annually from the flu and its complications. In addition, the resulting hospitalizations and medical care cost the healthcare system up to $12 billion each year. Sadly, there are underused vaccines that can prevent many of the hospitalizations and deaths, thus lessening the suffering and financial burden of this disease. This course will explore the history of influenza, symptoms, communicability, care of the patient, the makeup of the virus, avian and swine types of flu, vaccine issues, and pandemic planning. Reproducible patient education materials will be included. The vital roles of the healthcare professional and community involvement will be stressed.
Learning Outcomes
Upon the completion of this course, the learner should be able to:
- Articulate the history and burden of influenza on the community.
- Explain the types of influenza viruses, including the H and N designations.
- Describe the symptoms, transmission, and diagnosis of influenza.
- Distinguish between influenza and influenza-like illnesses.
- Identify complications of influenza.
- Articulate the effectiveness and importance of the influenza vaccines.
- Implement a strategy to increase vaccine administration to vulnerable patients.
- Describe the best method of hand hygiene and other ways of protecting against influenza.
- List the current antiviral medications available and their use.
- Teach family members how to care for people with the flu, including interventions for non-English-proficient patients and caregivers.
- Identify the significance of avian and swine influenza, particularly issues related to pandemic disease.
About the Author/Presenter
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):
Dental AGD Code: 149, Nursing, Pharmacy, Physician, Social Work
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