New Online Resource for Nurses

Online version of continuing education module makes it easier for nurses to obtain credit

Nurses play a central role in keeping people healthy, not only by providing care and instruction, but also by modeling healthy behaviors. In fact, research shows that parents are more likely to follow safe sleep practices—especially placing infants to sleep on their backs—if they see nursery staff consistently model this behavior in the hospital. In 2007, the NICHD, the National Institute on Nursing Research, and other national partner organizations released Continuing Education (CE) Module on Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS): A Curriculum for Nurses to help nurses make the most of their important role in health care to reduce the risk for SIDS. The NICHD and its partners now offer the Online CE Module for Nurses on SIDS Risk Reduction in addition to the printed booklet.

The new online version provides an “anytime, anywhere” way for busy nurses to receive credit for completing the course. There’s no waiting for tests to be scored and processed—nurses can submit their work online and receive their credit certificate in just a few minutes. Because nurses get called away from their computers to attend to patients, the online version remembers users’ progress and returns them to where they left off. Nurses can also access the online CE from any location to help maximize flexibility.

The CE Program on SIDS Risk Reduction: Curriculum for Nurses, in both online and printed formats, offers background information on SIDS and SIDS research, specific recommendations and risk-reduction strategies, and practical ways to communicate this information to parents and families. Those who successfully complete the program receive 1.1 hours of CE credit from the Maryland Nurses Association, which is accredited as a provider of CE by the American Nurses Credentialing Center Commission on Accreditation. To date, 8,460 nurses have earned CE credit through the program.

The newly released online module extends the reach of the CE program and will help spread safe sleep messages into more communities. As more nurses become aware of, practice, and communicate safe sleep recommendations, they can help parents and caregivers save infant lives.

For more information, select one of the links below:

 

Originally Posted: February 26, 2010

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