Multiple Myeloma
Course #30714 - $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 review the plasma cell malignancy of multiple myeloma. Diagnostic workup includes a complete history and physical, laboratory testing with an emphasis on blood, immunoglobulins, and urine for abnormal protein tumor markers. Imaging focuses on computerized tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and skeletal surveys. Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy are equally important in establishing the definitive diagnosis of multiple myeloma. To assist in understanding the interaction between plasma cells and bone cells, and the subsequent disease process, normal cell formation and bone marrow function will be reviewed. Treatment plans vary depending on the inevitable drug resistance and disease progression. Chemotherapy, glucocorticoids, radiation, stem cell transplantations, immunomodulators, proteasome inhibitors and bisphosphonates are included for discussion. The goal of treatment with multiple myeloma is to prolong overall survival and control the disease activity. These goals require patient and family education to begin from the time the diagnosis is established. Measures to recognize, treat, and avoid potential side effects from prescribed therapies and complications from the disease progression are paramount to patient care. Maintaining an optimal level of functioning and promoting quality of life are synonymous with pain control and achieving the goal of making every day a good one.
- INTRODUCTION
- HISTORY OF THE DISEASE
- PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
- MULTIPLE MYELOMA DIFFERENTIATION
- EPIDEMIOLOGY/ETIOLOGY OF MULTIPLE MYELOMA
- CLINICAL PRESENTATION
- AN OVERVIEW OF MULTIPLE MYELOMA-RELATED PHYSIOLOGY
- DIAGNOSIS
- STAGING
- TREATMENT MODALITIES
- STEM CELL TRANSPLANTATION
- COMPLICATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH MULTIPLE MYELOMA
- CONCLUSION
- RESOURCES
- Works Cited
- Evidence-Based Practice Recommendations Citations
This course is designed for nurses and allied healthcare professionals involved in the care, treatment, and education of patients with the diagnosis of multiple myeloma.
Multiple myeloma is the second most prevalent hematologic cancer after non-Hodgkin lymphoma. While great strides have been made to improve survival rates with this disease, and positive outcomes have been attained, multiple myeloma remains an incurable disease. The purpose of this course is to provide healthcare professionals in contact with multiple myeloma patients the information necessary to provide optimum care, treatment, and patient education.
Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:
- Review the history of multiple myeloma.
- Describe the pathophysiology and differentiation of multiple myeloma.
- Discuss the etiology, epidemiology, and clinical presentation of multiple myeloma.
- Review multiple myeloma-associated physiology, including normal plasma cell formation, the significance of immunoglobulins, and bone homeostasis.
- Discuss the diagnostic workup associated with multiple myeloma.
- Describe the staging of multiple myeloma with prognostic indicators.
- Discuss the role of glucocorticoids and bisphosphonates in the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma, incorporating regimens for relapsed/refractory disease with recognition of anticipated side effects.
- Outline the role and action of the immunomodulators in the treatment of multiple myeloma, including side effects and patient education.
- Discuss stem cell transplantation as a treatment option for multiple myeloma.
- Discuss disease-related complications and potential oncologic emergencies associated with multiple myeloma, including interventions and treatment.
Jacqueline Houtman, RN, MA, CDP, graduated with an Associate's degree from the Eastbourne School of Nursing in England in 1971. In 2000, she graduated with a Master's degree in Applied Social Science from Binghamton University, Upstate New York. During the course of her nursing career, Ms. Houtman has held various positions in the acute care hospital setting, including medical, surgical, orthopedic, ophthalmic, and intensive care units, incorporating five years of case management.
Contributing faculty, Jacqueline Houtman, RN, MA, CDP, has disclosed no relevant financial relationship with any product manufacturer or service provider mentioned.
Mary Franks, MSN, APRN, FNP-C
The division planner has 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.
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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.