This is a two-part, in-person CE Class from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (6 hours of CE credits). If you're a UC nurse, an extra hour will be available from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Participants must be in attendance all day to receive the full 6 CEU CE credits, even if they have taken one of the classes prior to the sign-up date.

Part 1: Planet Over Profits: The Health Impacts of Environmental Crisis & What Nurses Can Do

Description

This course examines the impacts of human-driven disruption of the natural environment on human health and health care, from devastating extreme weather events to the spread of novel infectious diseases and increased exposure to toxic pollutants.

The class will explore how climate change impacts the health of patients, the working conditions of nurses, and public health. We will consider how and why environmental health risks are increasing for everyone while disproportionately impacting under-resourced communities. We will also look at how nurses and other health justice advocates can and already are responding to environmental crisis and discuss strategies for building a just transition to a more sustainable and healthy future.

Objectives

Participants will be able to:

• Explain the fundamental science, key terms, and causes of climate change and environmental disruption.
• Identify the structural causes of climate-induced health issues and the social forces that fuel environmental health risks.
• Describe how and why adverse environmental determinants of health and health care disproportionately affect under-resourced populations locally and globally.
• Explore strategies for counteracting environmental injustice, addressing climate change, and justly transitioning to democratic and sustainable energy systems.

Instructor:

Kel Montalvo-Quiñones

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Part 2: Preparing for the Next Pandemic: Advocacy for Robust Infection Prevention Protections for Nurses and Patients

Description

Scientists estimate that the likelihood of another novel pathogen turning into a worldwide pandemic grows each year. Preparedness is essential to ensure the safety of nurses, other health care workers, and patients. The devastation and loss that has come from health care employers' failures to prepare for the Covid-19 pandemic cannot be repeated. But the reality is that many health care employers are not only failing to prepare; they are neglecting essential measures to prevent transmission of pathogens seen in health care facilities every day — from TB to MRSA, influenza, C diff, and more. Each day, one in 31 U.S. patients contracts at least one infection associated with their health care. Health care-associated infections rose significantly early in the Covid-19 pandemic and rates continue to be high. Nurses and other health care workers are also at risk — nearly seven in ten nurses have sustained at least one infection at work.

This class will apply the scientific foundation for infection prevention to nurses' workplaces. We will discuss the steps that need to be taken to ensure that health care facilities are prepared to protect nurses and patients from known pathogens and the next pandemic.

Objectives

Participants will be able to:

• Describe the importance of pandemic preparedness.
• Apply scientific updates on infectious disease transmission modes to infection prevention measures needed in health care facilities.
• Discuss steps that nurses can take to advocate for safer patient care conditions.

Instructors:

Rocelyn de Leon-Minch and/or Sarah Swinnerton and/or Jane Thomason

CE courses are free to National Nurses United members. Classes are only offered to direct-care and staff RNs.

Please note: CNA/NNOC/NNU is taking all necessary precautions to ensure the safety and health of nurses, our patients, and our communities during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. All in-person course participants are required to be fully vaccinated, wear masks while indoors, and practice social distancing to the extent possible.