Electrosurgery Continuing Education Module

Instructions
Accreditation Statement/Continuing Education Credit
Commercial Support Statement
Disclaimer Statement
Verification of Completion
Expiration Date
Objectives
Key Concepts
Overview
Exit Statement

Before You Begin

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Instructions

1. Read the entire contents of this module.
Navigating

Point to the blue text for glossary definitions with the mouse arrow.
Use the Next and Previous links to page through the module.
Jump to a specific topic by using the links in the navigation bar on the left.

Flash Animations

Click the Play button on the animation. (You must have the Flash Player installed to view these demos.)

2. Complete the test.

The test should take 30 minutes to complete, and consists of thirteen multiple choice questions.
To receive a certificate, all questions must be answered correctly.
- If your answer is incorrect, review the material before attempting the question again.
- To review, click the Review link, which opens the module in a new window. When you are finished reviewing, close the window to return to the test.

3. Fill out the registration/evaluation form.

This form must be submitted to receive the completion certificate.
Your personal information will be stored on a secure server and will remain safe and confidential. See our privacy statement.
The module and test can also be ordered as a book.

4. Print certificate of completion.

You will need Adobe Reader in order to open, view, and print the certificate.
Fill in your name, license number, and date. Print your certificate.

Covidien will maintain a record of your continuing education credit and will provide verification, if necessary, for five (5) years. If you have any questions, please call 800-255-8522 ext. 6740.

Accreditation Statement/Continuing Education Credit

This offering for two (2) contact hours was designed by the staff of the Department of Clinical Education, which is an approved provider of nursing continuing education (CE) in:

Colorado: The Covidien Energy-Based Professional Education, Department of Clinical Education is approved as a provider of continuing nursing education by the Colorado Nurses’ Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

Covidien Energy-Based Professional Education, Department of Clinical Education’s provider number VLI-0730, effective October 1, 2006 through September 30, 2009

Additional Covidien provider numbers:
California: #CEP 12764
Iowa: #289
Florida: #50-2111

Commercial Support Statement

Covidien provided an unrestricted educational grant to the Department of Clinical Education to develop and disseminate the “Electrosurgery Continuing Education Module.”

Disclaimer Statement

CNA “approved” refers to recognition of educational offerings only and does not imply approval or endorsement of any Covidien product.

A certificate of completion pertains only to the participant’s completion of the self-study guide, and does not in any way attest to the clinical competence of any participant.

Verification of Completion

A certificate will be provided to each person who completes the offering. The certificate pertains only to completion of the offering, and is intended for record-keeping purposes.

Expiration Date

This offering was originally produced for distribution in September 1997. It was revised in September 2003 and May 2007. It cannot be used after May 2010 without being updated. Therefore, credit will not be issued after May 31, 2010.

Objectives

Upon completion of this activity the participant will be able to:

Relate the properties of electricity to the clinical applications of electrosurgery.
Review four of the variables the surgeon controls that impact surgical effect.
Discuss the relationship between current concentration and tissue effect.
Identify potential patient injuries related to electrosurgery and technological advances designed to eliminate these problems.

Key Concepts

Electricity may be hazardous. It is important that clinicians understand how electricity behaves and relates to electrosurgical function and applications can contribute to its safe use.

Many types of electrosurgical technologies are in use in settings where surgery and invasive procedures are performed including ORs, doctors’ offices, ambulatory surgery units and endoscopy suites. The surgeon, perioperative nurse and other health-care team members must be aware of the implications for use for each technology in order to ensure safe patient care.

Knowledge of the preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative medical and nursing considerations and interventions can impact positive patient outcomes.

Overview

Electrosurgery came into wide use because of the urgent need to control bleeding in operative procedures. There have always been safety concerns when electricity is used in a therapeutic manner. This module will cover the fundamentals of electricity, principles of electrosurgery, clinical applications, technologies, recommended practices and nursing care during electrosurgery.

Note: The terms listed in the glossary are printed in blue in the body of the text of the module. Point to the blue text with the mouse arrow for definitions.

Exit Statement

The Covidien Energy-Based Professional Education, Department of Clinical Education is responsible for the content within the educational module only. The viewer is responsible for all other viewed content after exiting this site.