SEASONAL DISORDERS: NURSING INTERVENTIONS FOR COMMON HEALTH-RELATED ISSUES THAT OCCUR IN WARM AND COLD MONTHS: 6 CONTACT HOUR

Course overview

Nurses are often confronted with seasonally related healthcare problems and emergencies. For example, drowning occurs more often during the summer months. Frostbite is a winter-related problem. The purpose of this education program is to help nurses deal with health and wellness problems related to the time of year during which they most often occur. At the start of each season, make it a point to include education about weather-related issues during wellness visits as well as during visits for other illnesses and injuries. Promote the communication of such information in all available formats. Finally, remember to update knowledge and skills regarding seasonal related illnesses and injuries regularly. Nurses and other healthcare professionals must be well-informed themselves in order to inform others. LEARNING OBJECTIVES: 1. Describe preventive health initiatives for individuals who exercise outdoors year round. 2. Explain how to survive dangerous conditions that can occur due to winter storms. 3. Describe the effects of carbon monoxide poisoning. 4. Discuss treatment initiatives for frostbite. 5. Recognize the clinical effects of hypothermia. 6. Explain treatment initiatives for seasonal affective disorder (SAD). 7. Paraphrase treatment measures for allergic rhinitis. 8. Differentiate among the different types of reactions to insect bites and stings. 9. Describe first-aid initiatives for animal bites. 10. Assess patients for concussion. 11. Initiate first aid for lacerations and puncture wounds. 12. Explain treatment initiatives for near-drowning victims. 13. Differentiate among the categories of heat syndrome. 14. Identify characteristics of Lyme disease. 15. Describe the clinical effects of common poisonous plants. 16. Explain treatment measures for poisonous snake bites. 17. Correlate the level of spinal cord injury with its physiological effects. 18. Differentiate between sprains and strains. 19. Describe risk factors for sunburn. 20. Explain the clinical manifestations of West Nile virus infection.