Review Of Asthma Medication And Adherence Management

1. Title of Activity

 Navigating inhaled medicines management

2. Type of Activity

Online webinar

3. Date completed

 23 March 2019

4. Time taken to complete activity

 1 hour

5. Provider

 NPS Medicine Wise Learning

6. Learning Needs

 Implement stepwise management to tailor a patient’s medicine to the progression and level of COPD symptom

Determine the risk associated with inhaled medicines in COPD

Implement an approach that will ensure that the patient has received inhaler technique training

Ensure that patient adherence and techniques in COPD medicine is monitored

Review the medicine list for the patient after a transition, an exacerbation of when changing therapy to prevent harmful duplications

7. Reflection

a) What was learned

b) Application to practice

 I learned that stepwise management is very effective in managing COPD. I also learned that each inhaled COPD medicine has its risks that need to be factored in when being administered to the patient. Another thing that I learned is that it is crucial to review the COPD medicine lists for patients who are changing therapy, undergoing exacerbation or after a transition (NPS Medicine wise learning, 2019).

This knowledge will be applied to the patients that I will encounter during my professional practice. This information will also help me improve patient care quality since I will be able to prescribe the appropriate medicines for the patient. Through this information, I will be able to explain to the patient how they can get the best from their prescribed medication (Postma & Rabe, 2015).

1) Title of Activity

Unlocking asthma inhaler technique

2) Type of Activity

 Online webinar

3) Date completed

11 April 2019

4) Time taken to complete activity

 1 hour

5) Provider

NPS Medicine Wise Learning https://www.nps.org.au/cpd/activities/asthma-unlocking-inhaler-technique

6) Learning Needs

 I wanted to classify the pattern of the patient’s asthma symptoms effectively. I also wanted to develop the relevant skills that will be used to prescribe the appropriate medicine for the patient. Without proper medication, Asthma can rapidly progress to a life-threatening condition. Finally, I wanted to learn how to develop an asthma action plan for the patient

7) Reflection

a. What was learned

b. Application to practice

 I learned that several people do not use their prescribed asthma inhaling devices correctly. I also learned that the patient should undergo training and be engaged in several conversations with the healthcare worker; this will help to determine the proper methods of utilizing the inhaler device. I also learned that an asthma action plan should be developed for patients who have been diagnosed with asthma (Pavord et al., 2018)

This knowledge will be applied in my practice and help me improve patient care. For each patient that will be diagnosed with asthma, I will take the initiative of training them on how to use their inhaling device correctly. I will also explain to them the various techniques of asthma inhaler devices. This CPD has helped me to be more confident in my knowledge of asthma (Barnes, 2016).

1. Title of Activity

 Asthma: Optimising asthma control in children

2. Type of Activity

 Online webinar

3. Date completed

 15 May 2019

4. Time taken to complete activity

 1 hour

5. Provider

 NPS Medicine Wise Learning

6. Learning Needs

I wanted to learn how to identify the appropriate medicine for the patients. With the proper medication it is possible to control the symptoms of the disease. I also wanted to understand how to develop an asthma control care plan for the patient. without forgetting, I also wanted to investigate the route trigger of the asthma attack to prevent future attacks from occurring

7. Reflection

a) What was learned

b) Application to practice

 I learned that asthma mostly affects children. In patients who are below five years old, it is the responsibility of the caregiver to manage and control asthma using the various medications and inhalers prescribed by the clinician. I also learned that it is essential to optimize the control of asthma in children, which will help to prevent the symptoms of the illness from becoming worse (Teodorescu et al. 2015)

Using the knowledge that I learned in this CPD, I feel more competent in asthma control in children. This CPD helped me to understand and develop an appropriate asthma action plan. In future professional work, I will write an action plan for every patient diagnosed with asthma. In my practice I will investigate the trigger factors for the asthma attacks which will help me control the symptoms more effectively (Nunes, Pereira & Morais-Almeida, 2017).

1) Title of Activity

 Diagnosis and procedure

2) Type of Activity

 E-learning

3) Date completed

 15 May 2019

4) Time taken to complete activity

 1 hour

5) Provider

 The Heart Foundation https://myheartmylife-elearning.com.au/moodle/index.php

6) Learning Needs

 I wanted to learn the various cardiovascular issues that patients are at risk of contracting. I also wanted to know the symptoms of cardiovascular diseases. Moreover, I wanted to learn the different investigative measures that will be used in diagnosis of the cardiovascular diseases

7) Reflection

a. What was learned

b. Application to practice

 I learned that it is essential to explain to the patients the diagnosis and provide instructions on care. It recommended not to assume any detail. I also learned that patients should be allowed to ask questions and seek clarification about the diagnosis procedure. Finally, I also learned that it is essential to emphasize to the patient that undergoing a heart procedure is a treatment option and is not a cure for cardiovascular diseases. The patient will still be required to learn how to manage the condition (My heart my life e-learning, 2016).

The knowledge that I learned in this CPD has allowed me to understand the various cardiovascular diseases, their causative factors, treatment options, and prevention options. I am now more confident, and I can explain to the patient their diagnosis. The knowledge obtained has enabled me to understand that I should educate my patients about the recovery techniques and the long-term care that they will use to manage their health effectively. In my practice I will ensure that the patient fully understands the details before the procedure, after the procedure and the care method of the procedure (Wilkins et al., 2017)

1) Title of Activity

 Patient risk factors

2) Type of Activity

 Online module

3) Date completed

 16 May 2019

4) Time taken to complete activity

 1 hour

5) Provider

 The Heart Foundation https://myheartmylife-elearning.com.au/moodle/index.php

6) Learning Needs

 I wanted to learn the various cardiovascular risk factors. I also wanted to learn the different management techniques that will help to reduce the risk of having a cardiovascular event

7) Reflection

a) What was learned

b) Application to practice

 I learned that when analyzing the risk, it is important to review the patients’ medical history and discuss the risk factors that are relevant to their situation. I also learned that it is important to consider other risk factors with the patient, such as clinical risks  (for example, blood pressure, obesity) and lifestyle risk ( for instance, opioid use, tobacco smoking). This CPD helped to lean that I should emphasize to the patient the importance of attending a cardiac rehabilitation program to learn how to manage some of the risk factors (Sabatine et al., 2017)

The knowledge that I obtained in this CPD will be applied to my practice. I feel more competent about the various risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. In my practice, I will ensure that I explain to the patient the importance of managing the risk factors for heart disease, primarily through attending cardiac rehabilitation programs. I will also teach the patient how to manage their risk factors while conducting their day to day activities (Lonn et al., 2016)

1) Title of Activity

 Medication adherence

2) Type of Activity

 Online learning

3) Date completed

 17 May 2019

4) Time taken to complete activity

 1 hour

5) Provider

 The Heart Foundation https://myheartmylife-elearning.com.au/moodle/index.php 

6) Learning Needs

 I wanted to learn the various types of cardiac medication available in the market today. I also wanted to lean the medical precaution and adherence measures. In CPD, I wanted to learn the key issues that I should address with patient regarding medicine adherence

7) Reflection

a) What was learned

b) Application to practice

 I learned that I should always confirm that the patient understands why it is essential to take medications. I also learned that I should continuously and consistently emphasize to the patient that they should not stop taking the drugs for any reason. Finally, I learned that I should encourage the patient to discuss any concerns that they may have about the medications (Piepoli et al., 2016)

The knowledge that I have learned during this CPD will be applied to my professional practice. I am now competent in the various role that each medication in cardiovascular treatment plays. I will explain to my patient during my practice, when to take their medication and how to take them. I will also explain to them the various sources where they can obtain medicines using a prescription. In my practice I will ensure that the patient airs out any concern that they may have regarding the medications that they have been prescribed for by the clinicians. Finally, I will ensure that the patient understand some of the warning symptoms when taking the medication and encourage them to visit the health facility once the warning symptoms begin to appear (American Diabetes Association, 2016)

1) Title of Activity

 Stroke syndromes

2) Type of Activity

 Online learning

3) Date completed

 18 June 2019

4) Time taken to complete activity

 1 hour

5) Provider

 Stroke Foundation https://informme.org.au/learning-modules

6) Learning Needs

 I wanted to learn the various origins of stroke, for example, hemorrhagic or ischaemic. I also wanted to learn the difference between the posterior and anterior circulation syndromes based on the clinical findings from the patient. During this CPD I wanted to learn the various subtypes of stroke

7) Reflection

a) What was learned

b) Application to practice

 I learned the various stroke syndromes. I also learned other information such as hemorrhagic strokes, ischaemic strokes, vascular territories, anterior and posterior circulation, and lacunar infarcts. Learning the various subtypes helped me understand the importance of stroke subtypes. I also learned some of the causative risk factors for the different types of stroke

The knowledge that I have gained in this CPD will be applied during my practice. Understanding the variation in stroke types helps me to feel more competent. I will explain the patient the various kinds of strokes and sub strokes. Understanding the stroke syndromes will also help in making a proper diagnosis of the patient illness. The knowledge that was learned will also be applied during the development of a care plan for a stroke patient. Having information about the type of stroke and the region that it affects helps to provide more information on developing a quality nursing care plan (Writing et al., 2016)

1) Title of Activity

 Recovery of upper limb function

2) Type of Activity

 Online module

3) Date completed

 20 June 2019

4) Time taken to complete activity

 1 hour

5) Provider

 Stroke Foundation https://informme.org.au/learning-modules

6) Learning Needs

 I wanted to learn the clinical guideline recommendations for rehabilitation following a stroke and the recommendations for optimizing upper limb recovery. I also wanted to learn the kinematic deviations that affect everyone. These deviations jeopardize the individual’s ability to manipulate, reach and grasp objects. In this CPD I wanted to identify the outcome tests that can be used to analyze the progress or change during the recovery process (Feigin, Norrving & Mensah, 2017).

7) Reflection

a) What was learned

b) Application to practice

 I learned that active therapy and arm training varies according to the severity of the stroke. I also learned that using Hong’s recovery and training program, it is possible to measure and evaluate performance and progress of the rehabilitation program. It is also possible to measure the initial strength and capacity of the upper limb before the rehabilitation program and after the rehabilitation program. I also learned there are various causes of kinematic deviation and they play a significant role in the recovery of the patient (Goyal et al., 2015)

The knowledge learned in this CPC will be applied in my daily practice. I will encourage patients who have recently suffered a stroke that affected their upper right arm to attend a rehabilitation program. I will also use Hong’s performance and progress measurement to evaluate the progress of the patient and encourage them during the process (Laver et al., 2017)

1) Title of Activity

 Stroke and the emergency department

2) Type of Activity

 Online module

3) Date completed

 9 July 2019

4) Time taken to complete activity

 1 hour

5) Provider

 Stroke Foundation https://informme.org.au/learning-modules

6) Learning Needs

 I wanted to learn the evidence-based management of stroke in a regular emergency department. I also wanted to learn the various conditions that mimic stroke. In this CPD I also wanted to learn the fundamental investigations and assessments that are required for a patient suffering from a stroke in the emergency department (Saposnik et al., 2016)

7) Reflection

a) What was learned

b) Application to practice

 I learned that various conditions mimic stroke. They include brain tumors, diabetes, Todd’s palsy, hypoglycemia, and toxic metabolic disbalances. When a patient report to the emergency room with a suspected stoke a series of tests are conducted. I learned that the symptoms of stroke are first analyzed to ascertain the possibility of a stroke. During this CPD I learned that the screening tools used for stroke assessment are FAST and ROSIER (Stroke Foundation, 2019)

The knowledge acquired in this CPD will be applied in my daily practice. I will ensure that once a patient suffering from the stoke is reported in the emergency ward, there will be admitted within three hours. The objective of this is to prevent the post-stroke complication that may occur, for example, deep vein thrombosis, aspiration, pressure sores, pneumonia, pulmonary embolism, orthopedic complications among others. During admission to the intensive care unit, I will ensure that the patient is continuously monitored.

1) Title of Activity

 Stroke in young adults

2) Type of Activity

 Online module

3) Date completed

 17 July 2019

4) Time taken to complete activity

 1 hour

5) Provider

 Stroke Foundation https://informme.org.au/learning-modules

6) Learning Needs

 During this CPD, I learned the various factors that are considered when a stroke occurs in a patient who is below 45 years. I also wanted to learn the causes and the outcome of a young person experiencing a stroke

7) Reflection

a) What was learned

b) Application to practice

 I learned that a stroke that occurs in a young adult requires special consideration due to the potential long-term impact on the individual’s independence and societal roles. In addition, the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of the patient vary according to population and genetics. I also learned that the primary cause of ischaemic stroke in young adults is large vessel atherothromboembolism. The risk factors for young adults are like the risk factors for the general population, and they include hypertension, smoking, and diabetes. I also learned that the fatality rate for a young adult post-stroke is 23% higher than general population. Stroke survivors have an increased risk of death as compared to healthy peers (Saposnik et al., 2016).

The knowledge that I learned during this CPD will be implemented in my practice. I will create awareness about the risk factors for stroke in young people. During my practice I will also encourage stroke survivors to lead healthy lives to increase their chances of living a long life