Influenza (1 CEU)

Influenza is a respiratory infection caused by influenza virus. Commonly known as the “flu”, influenza is an acute febrile respiratory illness that occurs in annual outbreaks of varying severity and commonly in unpredictable worldwide epidemics (pandemics), caused by infection with influenza type A or B virus. Influenza viruses are constantly changing, with new strains appearing regularly. Seasonal influenza can include the H1N1 virus commonly known as the “swine flu”. Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a similar respiratory illness caused by a coronavirus called SARS-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV).  Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS-CoV) virus is a new variant coronavirus which is a different virus from the SARS. The causative virus infects the respiratory tract, is highly contagious, and typically produces prominent systemic symptoms early in the illness. Influenza virus infection can produce various clinical syndromes in adults, including nonfebrile common colds, pharyngitis, tracheobronchitis, and pneumonia. Other respiratory viruses, such as respiratory syncytial virus  (RSV) or adenovirus may also produce influenza-like illness. Influenza may initially seem like a common cold with a runny nose, sneezing and sore throat.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

After completing this course, the Nurse Assistant will be able to:

1. Define the symptoms of influenza and what makes influenza different than other illnesses like the common cold.

2. Define the different types of influenza and how it spreads

3. Explain which individuals are at highest risk for contracting influenza

4. Demonstrate infection control practices to prevent influenza from spreading

Instructions for taking the course

To complete the course successfully, you must go through all the lessons below. You MUST mark each lesson as complete by clicking the MARK COMPLETE BUTTON. If you do not click the mark complete button, you will not be allowed to proceed to the next lesson. Please notice that all lessons have a minimum set amount of time that you are expected to spend on each lesson. You will not be allowed to Mark the Lesson Complete until the timer resets to zero; that is, until the minimum time set for the course has passed. For example if lesson A has an allocated minimum time of 10 minutes, you will have to wait 10 minutes before you can mark Lesson A complete. The Mark Complete button for lesson A will be grayed out and will not become active until 10 minutes are over.

WARNINGIf you forget to click the Mark Complete button done, you will be prompted to go back to that lesson again and have to wait till the allocated timed minutes resets to zero again before the Mark Complete button becomes active. After all lessons are completed and they are Marked Completed, you will then be allowed to take the post test. If you successfully pass the quiz, you will earn CEU’s for this course and you can proceed to print out your certificate.

LESSONS & QUIZ BELOW