A Caring Approach to Behavioral Issues

Price (includes one year of access and CE):  US$16 Course Code: 7SENNF-PRV-09-ddn23 CE: 3.00 Hours. Post Test Score Required for Successful Completion: 80%

Course Overview:

This module discusses behavioral assessments and interventions that the nurse can use when caring for people with developmental disabilities, who, as a group, are at higher risk for behavioral disorders and psychiatric illnesses than the general population. Two case scenarios are threaded through the module: one scenario about a young woman with Down syndrome who lives in a group home and has behaviors that make control of her diabetes difficult, and a second scenario about a man with an intellectual disability who is displaying aggressive behavior in his workplace. As each scenario progresses, it shows the causes of each client's behavior and how the nurse uses a "whole-person" approach to intervene in modifying behavior and promoting positive health care choices. In addition to the case scenarios, the module also discusses variables that can affect behavior and how various factors can affect the evaluation of behavior in people who have developmental disabilities. After discussing dual diagnosis (having both a developmental disability and a mental illness) and co-morbid psychiatric conditions, the module presents an overview of the role of the nurse in psychopharmacologic and behavioral interventions, including education and support of caregivers involved in behavioral observations and interventions.

Course Objectives:

After completion of this learning activity, the learner will be able to:

• identify key behavioral principles related to the nursing care of people with developmental disabilities.
• describe key components of a "whole person" nursing assessment.
• list factors that can make it difficult to assess behavior and intervene with people who have mental disabilities.
• state guidelines for behavioral assessment and diagnosis of people with developmental disabilities.
• give an overview of behavioral and caring principles that the nurse should teach to direct care staff.
• identify caring strategies that can be used to help a person who is engaging in behaviors that are injurious to self or others.
• identify symptoms of mental illness that also may be attributed to medical conditions in persons with developmental disabilities.
• state common guidelines for the use of psychopharmacologic agents to treat behavioral symptoms in people with developmental disabilities.
• define terms commonly used to discuss assessment and interventions related to behaviors and mental illnesses that can be associated with developmental disabilities.

This courseware was made possible in part by grant number R43 NR04738-03 from the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR). Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors.

Copyright© 2007 by HealthSoft, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

HealthSoft, Inc. is an approved provider of continuing nursing education by the New York State Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.

It has been assigned code 7SENNF-PRV-09.

This course is updated annually. Expiration date: 5/1/11

The faculty and planners of this course have no vested interests to disclose.

This course has received no commercial support.