EDS Awareness Nursing Continuing Education Program
Course Description
Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes (EDS) are genetic, connective tissue disorders that can have a significant impact on affected patients. While commonly classified as a rare disease, EDS is likely more common than realized, as it is underdiagnosed.
Because connective tissue is present throughout the body, EDS can affect many different systems. As a genetic disorder, it is chronic, lasting a lifetime, and often affects multiple members of a family. Patients with EDS report significant difficulty getting diagnosed, and getting safe, appropriate care, as nurses and other healthcare clinicians often lack any understanding of or experience with EDS.
Problems experienced by patients with EDS include poorly controlled pain, high risk for joint and skin injuries during routine activities and care, autonomic dysfunction with orthostatic intolerance, lightheadedness and fainting and unexpected reactions to medications, allergens and chemicals as a result of mast cell sensitivity.
Nurses need to know about EDS to provide safe, quality care and to help identify patients who may have it yet who have not been been properly diagnosed. This course provides an overview of what nurses and other healthcare clinicians need to know to provide safe, quality care for patients with EDS.
What We Will Cover
- What is EDS?
- Physical changes in EDS: How these impact the patient
- Overview of Nursing Care for the Patient with EDS
Learning Outcomes
- Recognize 2 characteristics of EDS in multiple choice questions.
- Identify 2 physical characteristics of EDS in a clinical patient scenario.
- Recognize 2 patient care priorities in an EDS clinical patient scenario.
Contact Hours and Requirements
This course should take about an hour. Upon completion, you will get a certificate of completion for 1 contact hour of ANCC continuing nursing education credit. To earn contact hours you will:
- Complete all course sections
- Answer each question
- Review each quiz discussion
- Complete the course evaluation
This continuing nursing education activity is being provided by EDS Awareness/ Chronic Pain Partners. It was approved by the Wisconsin Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation
Faculty
Kath Hague RGN, NP
hague443@gmail.com
Nurse Planner:
Beth Fahlberg PhD, RN
beth.fahlberg@gmail.com
Disclosures
There are no relevant conflicts of interest to disclose.
Course Expiration
Contact hours will be awarded for this course until December 10, 2021
– YOU MUST BE REGISTERED TO ATTEND THIS COURSE FOR THE FIRST TIME
If you have not registered click below.
– Before you begin the course please click below to complete a brief Pre-Test on the next page
– Then select MARK COMPLETE: to proceed to the first section.