Issue link: https://nnumagazine.uberflip.com/i/198027
CE Home Study Course Influenza Pandemics The Critical Advocacy Role of the Registered Nurse The H1N1 pandemic is grabbing headlines around the world. Are you prepared? To find out, take this home-study course and submit the attached quiz by mail for 2 continuing education credits. DESCRIPTION. This home study examines the critical advocacy role of the RN in preventing and mitigating the impact of influenza pandemics. Though this course focuses on H1N1, the role of the registered nurse is constant and consistent for all other potential pandemics, such as the avian influenza. INTRODUCTION another." WHO emphasized that this does not mean the virus is causing more severe illness or more deaths and cautioned against overreactions to the increased alert level. WHO's decision to raise the pandemic alert level to Phase 6 is a reflection of the spread of the virus, not the severity of illness caused by the virus. It is uncertain at this time how serious or severe this novel H1N1 pandemic will be in terms of how many people infected will develop serious complications or die from novel H1N1 infection. Because novel H1N1 is a new virus, many people may have little or no immunity against it, and illness may be more severe and widespread as a result. ovel influenza a (h1n1) is a new flu virus of swine origin that was first detected in April 2009. IMMUNIZATION Human influenza is transmitted from person to person via virus-laden large in early july 2009 the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts droplets that are generated when infected (SAGE) working with the World Health Organization recommendpersons cough or sneeze; these large ed that healthcare workers worldwide be immunized as a first priordroplets can then be directly deposited ity, but acknowledged that ultimately, national authorities will onto the mucosal surfaces of the upper res- identify priority groups for vaccination based on circumstances piratory tract of susceptible persons who are near (i.e., within three within their own countries. feet of ) the droplet source. Transmission may also occur through In late July the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices direct and indirect contact with infectious respiratory secretions. (ACIP) in the United States recommended five target groups for initial immunization using the criteria of increased risk of H1N1 infecInfluenza-like illness can include fever, body aches, runny nose, tion, complications and contact with vulnerable people: sore throat, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. The Center for Disease Pregnant women Control and Prevention (CDC) has posted emergency warning signs Household contacts of babies under six months of age for children and adults requiring emergency medical care. See Healthcare and emergency medical services (EMS) workers http://www.cdc.gov/flu/swine, or call CDC at 800-CDC-INFO Children and young people aged six months through 24 years (English and Spanish) or 888-232-6348(TTY). People between 25 and 64 years who have chronic medical As of January 8, 2010 the Center for Disease Control reported conditions that there had been 37,778 hospitalized cases and 1,735 deaths from swine flu in the United States. REGISTERED NURSE ROLE As of January 2010 the World Health Organization reported 12,799 confirmed deaths from H1N1 the centrality of the RN role in preparing for and Submitted by the worldwide. WHO believes the reported number of responding to any disaster is critical in all practice Joint Nursing cases is understated due to the fact that the hardestsettings. The key functions are: Practice Commishit countries no longer test everyone with flu-like n to achieve optimal public health through provision and Hedy Dumpel, RN, JD, symptoms. sion of preventative care in order to prevent, mitigate Director of Nursing or contain a potential pandemic; and, Practice and STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM n to provide safe, therapeutic, and effective Patient Advocacy on june 11, 2009 the World Health Organization restorative care so patients can achieve optimum (WHO) raised the worldwide pandemic alert level to health. Provider Approved Phase 6 in response to the ongoing global spread of RNs are at the front line of communicable disease by the California the novel influenza A (H1N1) virus. A Phase 6 desigprevention and control through outreach screening, Board of Registered Nursing, Provider nation indicates that a global pandemic is underway. case finding, resource coordination and the delivery #00754 for 2.0 Dr Margaret Chan, director-general of the WHO, and evaluation of care of individuals, families and contact hours (cehs) said, "The virus is contagious, spreading easily from communities. RN skills and expertise are critical in one person to another and from one country to restoring and protecting the health, welfare and safety N 30 N AT I O N A L N U R S E W W W. N A T I O N A L N U R S E S U N I T E D . O R G JANUARY | FEBRUARY 2010