Medication errors lead to ineffective treatment, complications and, in extreme cases, even death. Nurses administer medication prescribed by a doctor, and they must be certain not to make errors by dispensing it in incorrect dosages or by giving the wrong medicine altogether. A medication error CEU course teaches nurses how to reduce the chance of making errors through standard techniques like double-checking charts and consulting with doctors. Additionally, the CEU courses teach new measures in the field for reducing errors, such as digitized records and medication scanners. RN.org offers an online CEU course in medication errors.
In the hospital, nurses administer strong pain medication to alleviate disease and reduce related pain in patients. Pain management involves adjusting dosage based on patient observation, consultation with the patient and knowledge of the way medications interact with the body. NursingCEU.com offers several pain management CEU courses online.
Treatment for asthma often requires use of two or more treatments, such as nebulizers and prescription or over the counter pills. The treatments work synergistically to alleviate asthma symptoms. Nurses administering and overseeing asthma treatment need to know how different medicines work together and what signs to look for to confirm successful treatment. NursingCEU.com offers an asthma pharmacology CEU course online.
Substance abuse is a pervasive problem. According to the National Institute of Health, an estimated 20 percent of people in the United States use prescription drugs for non medical reasons. Painkillers, sedatives and stimulants are the three most commonly abused drugs. A nurse can identify a drug abuser if he knows the signs. Substance abuse courses teach nurses how to identify drug abusers through direct observation, interview and medical records. Western Schools offers a substance abuse CEU course online.