Sleep & Chronobiology for Nurses

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A series of 9 to 12 online training modules designed particularly for nurses of patients with sleep problems. Tuition for this self-paced educational program is free of charge except for the cost of the recommended text, and open only to members of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association or the Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society

Nursing Professionals: Earn CE Credits for Successful Completion of These Free Training Modules... (see below for details)

Course Description
This course aims to familiarize psychiatric nurses with current theory and practice related to sleep and sleep dysregulation in patients receiving psychiatric nursing services. The course provides fundamental information related to the human circadian timing system (chronobiology), its relationship to normative sleep and wakefulness, as well as theories on the dysregulation of this system in psychiatric illness.

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Particular attention is paid to accurate symptom identification in conjunction with nursing assessment and intervention in persons experiencing sleep disturbances. Current standards of practice, practice guidelines and evidence-based approaches guide the nurse’s use of the range of behavioral and pharmacologic strategies that are addressed in this course. This course represents recommended content on sleep and chronobiology for nurses from Sleep and chronobiology for nurses: Recommendations for nursing education (Lee KA et al., Nursing Outlook 2004; 52: 126-33]. Prerequisites/Corequisites: None. Crs#:00.071-081

Method of Instruction
This is a self directed online course consisting of 12 modules. The first nine modules provide fundamental information on sleep and chronobiology for nurses both at the generalist and advanced practice levels in psychiatric and mental health nursing. The last three modules speak to information that is specific to advanced practice nurses working in psychiatric and mental health nursing. Students are expected to complete one module of the class each week, and to engage in the activities specified within each module.

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Course content includes:

Online Learning Modules
Links to sites of interest and relevance to the class ("cyber field trips")
Assigned readings and other learning experiences

Admission Into the Course & Course Start Date:
Registration is open to members of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association or the Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society. Register for the course through one of these two organizations. When you submit you registration, you will receive a confirmation page with with your course login information. This course is self-paced and your course will begin the first week of the following month. Enrollment is limited, so register today!

Tuition: Free, except for the cost of the recommended text (see information below)

Audience: Open on a first-come, first-served basis to nurses and psychiatric nurses who are members of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association or the Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society.

Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this course, the psychiatric nurse participant will:

A.		Describe normal developmental changes in sleep across the lifespan.
B.		Identify normal and abnormal sleep patterns.
C.		Describe commonly occurring sleep disorders and associated symptoms including excessive daytime sleepiness and abnormal nocturnal behaviors, sensations and movements.
D.		Integrate knowledge of sleep into health assessment in the care of persons with psychiatric disorders.
E.		Provide and evaluate environmental and behavioral nursing interventions to promote effect sleep patterns.
F.		Collaborate in the delivery of pharmacological and non-pharmacological sleep interventions.
G.		Incorporate patient teaching strategies for sleep promotion and sleep hygiene into nursing.

Additional Objectives for Advanced Modules 10-12:

H.		Incorporates the use of sleep assessment tools into assessment.
I.		Implements safe and effective delivery of pharmacological and non- pharmacological sleep interventions to persons with diverse psychiatric diseases.
		Objectives from Sleep & chronobiology for nurses: Recommendations for nursing education (Lee KA et al., Nursing Outlook, 52(3): 126-33.

Methods of Evaluation and Grading Scale
Each module contains a pre and post test. Successful completion of each module requires a score of 75% or better in order to receive credit for the module. Upon completion of the entire course, the American Psychiatric Nurses Association will be notified of your completion and you will receive a certificate of completion to document the receipt of continuing education credit.

Time Allotment
Students will spend approximately 3 hours per week on each module.

CE Credits / CEUs
Awarding of CE credits will be based upon successful completion of the Basic and Advanced Modules, accredited through the American Psychiatric Nurses Association.

Faculty
Geoffry Philips McEnany, PhD, APRN, BC
Professor, Department of Nursing
School of Health & Environment
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Phone: 978-934-4409
Email: Geoffry_PhillipsMcEnany@uml.edu

Partners / Sponsors
The American Psychiatric Nurses Association
Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society
University of Massachusetts Lowell, Dept. of Continuing Studies

Text - Strongly Recommended
Sleep Research Society. Basics of Sleep Guide, Westchester, IL: SRS, 2005

To order this text, sign onto www.sleepresearchsociety.org On the home page, scroll down until you see the link "SRS Basics of Sleep Guide." Click on it and follow the directions to order the book. SRS members may receive the book for $35.00. Non-members cost is $50.00.

Recommended
Mindell JA, Owens JA. A clinical guide to pediatric sleep: Diagnosis and management of sleep problems in children and adolescents. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2003 ISBN: 0-7817-4012-6

Smolensky M, Lamburg L. The body clock guide to better health: How to use your body's natural clock to fight illness and achieve maximum health. New York: Henry Holt & Company, 2000. ISBN 0-8050-5661-0