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1. Define strategies to reduce or eliminate no longer clinically indicated psychiatric medications, including antipsychotics.
2. Investigate the root cause of difficult behaviors and determine the appropriate interventions.
3. State the signs and symptoms of the various dementias, including Alzheimer’s disease, and how they relate to difficult geriatric behaviors.
4. Recognize the unique challenges faced by caregivers of the elderly and develop strategies for providing assistance.
5. Identify the causes of an escalation in physically-aggressive behaviors and recommend interventions that will help to remedy the situation.
6. Describe how validation can be used to display empathy for the patient with frequent complaints.
7. Explain why every facility should have established policies regarding sexual behavior.
8. Create solid documentation strategies to support use of antipsychotics when appropriate and avoid survey deficiencies.
9. Develop a better understanding of the when, why & how of utilizing antipsychotic medications.

Common Behaviors of Focus & Use of Antipsychotic Medications

• Inappropriate Sexual Behaviors
  • Inappropriate Sexual Behaviors vs. Normal Sexual Desires
  • Organizational Policies for Sexuality
  • Sexuality and the Cognitively-Impaired
• Agitation/Aggression
  • Impaired Impulse Control
  • Identify the Problem
  • Explore Environmental Reasons
  • Identify Causes of Escalation
• Wandering/Pacing
  • Ideas to Help Keep the Wandering Patient Safe
• Frequent Complaints
• Repetitive Statements/Questions
• Psychosis/Paranoia
• Refusal of Medications & Treatments
• Manipulation & Attention Seeking
• Refusal to Bathe
• Exit Seeking
• Falls
• Sleep/Wake Disturbances
• Apathy vs. Depression
• Uncontrolled Yelling/Crying

Accurate Assessment

• Identifying the Root Cause

Ethical Considerations

• Managing the Emotional Reaction

Effective Documentation

• Regulatory and Compliance Changes

Reducing and Eliminating Antipsychotic Medication

• Assessment Strategies
• Non-pharmacologic Strategies

Medication Management

• Classes & Dosages
• Appropriate Use - Risk/Benefits
• Special Considerations
• Black Box Warnings
• Gradual Dose Reduction

Alzheimer’s Disease & Dementias: Challenges, Goals & Interventions

• Reducing the Risk Factors
• Various Types of Dementias
• Early Onset Alzheimer’s Disease
• Getting a Diagnosis Through Diagnostic Testing
• Pharmacological Treatment Options
• Behaviors Commonly Associated with Alzheimer’s Disease

The Fine Line Between Anxiety & Depression

• Medical Illnesses That Increase the Risk for Depression & Treatment Strategies
• Antidepressant and Antianxiety Medications
• The Various Forms of Anxiety

The Caregiver Concerns

• Caregiver emotions: Sadness, Fear, Worry, Anger, Guilt, Fatigue
• Assisting the Caregiver to Meet the Needs of Their Loved One

Bobbi Duffy is currently a Clinical Director for one of the nation's largest geriatric behavioral health practices. In this role, she is frequently involved in dementia care and works closely with a multi-disciplinary team of healthcare providers to create patient-centered solutions. Bobbi draws from diverse experiences treating patients with dementia across a variety of settings, including: hospitals, home healthcare, and long-term care. Additionally, Bobbi maintains a small private practice that focuses on geriatric psychiatry and caregiver stress.

Bobbi is passionate about educating others. Her expertise is sought throughout the country on a variety of topics, from medication management to challenging behaviors. She remains committed to furthering her own education through pursuit of her Doctorate in Nursing Practice degree and remains dually board certified (as a Family Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Clinical Nurse Specialist) through the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

Speaker Disclosures

Financial: Bobbi Duffy maintains a private practice. She is a Clinical Director for MedOptions. She receives a speaking honorarium from PESI, Inc.

Nonfinancial: Bobbi Duffy is a member of the American Nurses Association.

For U.S. and Canadian customers, a CE test is available for $9.99 USD per participant. International CE rates may vary; please contact our Customer Service at 1-800-844-8260 for more details.

Listed below are the continuing education credit(s) currently available for this non-interactive self-study package. Please note, your state licensing board dictates whether self study is an acceptable form of continuing education. Please refer to your state rules and regulations.

Certificates of Successful Completion may be emailed, faxed or mailed to participants completing the post-test/evaluation and paying the CE fee.

**Materials that are included in this course may include interventions and modalities that are beyond the authorized practice of mental health professionals. As a licensed professional, you are responsible for reviewing the scope of practice, including activities that are defined in law as beyond the boundaries of practice in accordance with and in compliance with your professions standards.

All members of the PESI, Inc. planning committee have provided disclosures of financial relationships with ineligible organizations and any relevant non-financial relationships prior to planning content for this activity. None of the committee members had relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies or other potentially biasing relationships to disclose to learners. For speaker disclosures, please see the faculty biography.

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Nurses/Nurse Practitioners/Clinical Nurse Specialists - Credit Expired: 10/7/2017
No CE available for this board.

California Nurses: PESI, Inc. is a provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider #:17118 for 6.0 self-study contact hours.

You will need to provide your license number to PESI. PESI must have this number on file in order for your hours to be valid.

Florida Nurses: PESI, Inc. is an approved provider by the Florida Board of Nursing. Provider #: FBN2858. These materials qualify for 6.0 self-study contact hours.

Iowa Nurses: PESI, Inc. is an approved provider by the Iowa Board of Nursing. Provider #: 346. Nurses successfully completing these self-study materials will earn 7.2 self-study contact hours.

Copies of the evaluation may be sent to the IBON. You will need to provide your license number to PESI. PESI must have this number on file in order for your hours to be valid.

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Pharmacology Nurse Practitioners
This self-study program offers 240 instructional minutes of pharmacology content which is designed to qualify for 4.0 contact hours toward your pharmacology requirement.

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Pharmacists

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Other Professions
This self-study activity qualifies for 6.0 clock hours of instructional content as required by many national, state and local licensing boards and professional organizations. Retain your certificate of completion and contact your board or organization for specific filing requirements.

Disclaimer: **Information obtained in this course should be used within your scope of practice.
**It is your ethical responsibility to report accurate hours to your licensing board.
**All self-study participants must complete and pass (80% or better) a post-test and evaluation prior to receiving a certificate of completion. If you require a copy of the test/evaluation for CE purposes, please print at the time you take the test. Or you may call our customer service department and a copy of your test/evaluation will be emailed to you. Please allow 30-45 days.

Nurses, Pharmacists, Physician, Physician Assistants, and other Healthcare Professionals