Understanding Disorders of Consciousness: Opportunities for Critical Care Nurses

Activity Summary

Required reading for all learners: Implicit Bias impacts patient outcomes

Knowledge of encephalopathy, delirium, and coma is important for nurses who care for patients with Disorders of Consciousness (DOC). For improving patient outcomes, it is vital to perform standardized assessments and interventions that are consistent with the cue-response theory. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to provide a greater understanding of encephalopathy, delirium, and coma and to provide standardized assessments and nursing interventions for these DOCs.

Objectives

Describe differences in the disorders or consciousness
Identify key assessment components for disorders of consciousness
Examine potential nursing interventions for disorders of consciousness

Continuing Education Disclosure Statement

Successful Completion

Learners must complete the entire activity and the associated evaluation to be awarded contact hours AND read Implicit Bias impacts patient outcomes. No partial credit will be awarded.

Accreditation

The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.
Provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider number CEP 1036, for {contactHours} contact hours.

Disclosures

Any relevant relationship between an ineligible company and an individual with the ability to influence clinical content will be identified by the Nurse Planner within the activity. Any relevant relationship between an ineligible company and an individual with the ability to influence clinical content has been mitigated.

Accreditation refers to recognition of continuing education only and does not imply AACN, ANCC, or CBRN approval or endorsement of any commercial products discussed or displayed in conjunction with this educational activity. Activities with pharmacology hours are to assist the APRN in fulfilling the pharmacotherapeutic education requirements for licensure and certification renewals.

Activities meet the standards for most states that require mandatory continuing education for license and/or certification renewal. AACN recommends consulting with your own state board of nursing or credentialing organization before submitting your certificate of completion.

Refund Policy

Continuing Education Activities are nonrefundable.