Seizures and Epilepsy Syndromes
Course #90424 - $60 -
- Participation Instructions
- Review the course material online or in print.
- Complete the course evaluation.
- Review your Transcript to view and print your Certificate of Completion. Your date of completion will be the date (Pacific Time) the course was electronically submitted for credit, with no exceptions. Partial credit is not available.
This course will provide basic information about epilepsy and its management and note sources of additional patient education resources for patients with seizure disorders. Important features of the care of the patient with epilepsy will be presented. This will include an overview of the incidence and etiology of epilepsy, treatment modalities, prevention and self-care management. The impact of epilepsy on the individual, family and the community will also be discussed. Finally, special epilepsy concerns, including psychosocial issues, will be reviewed.
- INTRODUCTION
- OVERVIEW OF SEIZURES AND SEIZURE DISORDERS
- ETIOLOGY OF SEIZURES
- BASIC PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF SEIZURES
- CLASSIFICATION OF SEIZURES
- DIAGNOSING SEIZURE DISORDERS
- EPILEPSY IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS
- THERAPEUTIC MODALITIES
- COMPLICATIONS OF SEIZURES
- PATIENT EDUCATION
- EPILEPSY RESEARCH
- CASE STUDY
- CONCLUSION
- RESOURCES
- Works Cited
- Evidence-Based Practice Recommendations Citations
This course is designed for all physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals who have contact with patients with seizure disorders.
The purpose of this course is to expand the understanding of seizure disorders for physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals in order to facilitate earlier diagnoses and more effective treatment.
Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:
- Differentiate between a seizure and epilepsy.
- Recall the incidence of epilepsy.
- Identify the major etiologies of epilepsy.
- Describe the phases of a seizure and exacerbating factors.
- Define the major seizure classifications and seizure types.
- Discuss the significance of history taking and differential diagnosis in identifying epilepsy.
- Identify diagnostic studies useful in the care of patients with epilepsy.
- Detail the management of epilepsy in specific populations.
- Discuss advantages and disadvantages for the most commonly prescribed pharmacologic agents.
- Describe nonpharmacologic treatments for epilepsy.
- Identify the most common complications occurring during or after a seizure.
- Explain the emergent treatments for status epilepticus.
- Discuss the prevention of epilepsy and epilepsy-related injury, including specific patient education needs for non-English-proficient patients.
Kelley M. Anderson, PhD, RN, FNP, received her undergraduate education at the University of Virginia. She completed her master's degree at the University of Texas, Austin, her post-master's family nurse practitioner education at the University of Florida, and her doctorial degree from the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. While at the University of Florida, she worked with epileptic patients in the outpatient and acute care settings. She provided care with conventional modalities and assisted in the management of patients under investigative research medications and protocols.
Contributing faculty, Kelley M. Anderson, PhD, RN, FNP, has disclosed no relevant financial relationship with any product manufacturer or service provider mentioned.
John M. Leonard, MD
Jane C. Norman, RN, MSN, CNE, PhD
The division planners have disclosed no relevant financial relationship with any product manufacturer or service provider mentioned.
Sarah Campbell
The Director of Development and Academic Affairs has disclosed no relevant financial relationship with any product manufacturer or service provider mentioned.
The purpose of NetCE is to provide challenging curricula to assist healthcare professionals to raise their levels of expertise while fulfilling their continuing education requirements, thereby improving the quality of healthcare.
Our contributing faculty members have taken care to ensure that the information and recommendations are accurate and compatible with the standards generally accepted at the time of publication. The publisher disclaims any liability, loss or damage incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, of the use and application of any of the contents. Participants are cautioned about the potential risk of using limited knowledge when integrating new techniques into practice.
It is the policy of NetCE not to accept commercial support. Furthermore, commercial interests are prohibited from distributing or providing access to this activity to learners.
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The role of implicit biases on healthcare outcomes has become a concern, as there is some evidence that implicit biases contribute to health disparities, professionals' attitudes toward and interactions with patients, quality of care, diagnoses, and treatment decisions. This may produce differences in help-seeking, diagnoses, and ultimately treatments and interventions. Implicit biases may also unwittingly produce professional behaviors, attitudes, and interactions that reduce patients' trust and comfort with their provider, leading to earlier termination of visits and/or reduced adherence and follow-up. Disadvantaged groups are marginalized in the healthcare system and vulnerable on multiple levels; health professionals' implicit biases can further exacerbate these existing disadvantages.
Interventions or strategies designed to reduce implicit bias may be categorized as change-based or control-based. Change-based interventions focus on reducing or changing cognitive associations underlying implicit biases. These interventions might include challenging stereotypes. Conversely, control-based interventions involve reducing the effects of the implicit bias on the individual's behaviors. These strategies include increasing awareness of biased thoughts and responses. The two types of interventions are not mutually exclusive and may be used synergistically.