FREE CEU MENU

RespiratoryTherapists

Sleep Techs

Nurses

Nurse Practioners

Physicians

Pharmacists

Social Workers

Case Managers

Physical Therapists

Occupational Therapists

Speech Therapists

Dieticians

CNAs

Submit Your Email Address:       

                               to be notified when new CME is posted.

Featured FREE CRCE of the Month

NEW!  Arterial Catheter Insertion, Care and Maintenance- Discuss insertion techniques for arterial catheter placement. Discuss site selection. Describe the use of ultrasound for vessel visualization and catheter insertion. Review daily maintenance and bundle strategies for arterial catheters.  1.0 Free CRCE

NEW!  Managing Respiratory Patients through Efficient Aerosol Delivery- provides an overview of aerosol therapy, the factors that affect drug deposition in the lungs, and the various delivery devices available.  1.0 CRCE   (+RN, CM)

Courses featured in Clinical Foundations- A Patient-focused Education Program for Respiratory Therapists. (Note: CRCE expiration dates on the linked articles tend to be inaccurate, many of the educational offerings are extended past the original exp date. As long as the test is still available, you will be able to take it and print your certificate immediately. We update & remove expired courses or add new ones weekly)

Filtration of Breathing Gases- Filtration of contaminated breathing gases is a necessary measure in mechanical ventilation.There are two types of filters available for filtration of breathing gases: mechanical filters and electrostatic filters. Use of these filters can potentially minimize the risk of infection and cross-contamination to patients, caregivers and visitors in the critical care setting. For optimal filter function, attention must be paid to factors such as humidity, airflow rate, filter drying or obstruction, decreased performance with anesthetic gases, and the possible buildup of toxic gases in closed anesthesia circuits.   
2 Free CRCE Link to Post-Test   (Issue 12)

Humidification During Non-Invasive Ventilation- Questions addressed include whether short-term humidification during NIV can be used in the emergency room, issues to consider when using an artificial nose during NIV, pros and cons of using a heat and moisture exchanger or a heated humidifier during NIV, potential physiological irregularities that can arise during NIV without humidification, and assessment of success.  2 Free CRCE  Link to Post-Test  (Issue 10)

Management of the Difficult Airway & Prehospital Management of the Difficult Airway-discusses the various treatment options for managing the failed intubation. Modern airway management has evolved with the introduction of supraglottic devices as well as newer techniques to facilitate endotracheal intubation. Device options reviewed here include the fiberoptic bronchoscope, rigid fiberoptic laryngoscopes, the lighted stylette,GlideScope or Video Macintosh video laryngoscopic systems, and the ViewMax fiberoptic laryngoscope. Bag and mask ventilation devices include the laryngeal mask airway, the Combitube, and the Rusch Easy Tube.  2 Free CRCE   Link to Post-Test   (Issue 2)

Non-invasive Respiratory Support in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit/Panel Discussion: Non-invasive Respiratory Support in NICU- non-invasive respiratory support strategies for the management of RDS in the neonatal intensive care unit continue to evolve. Early CPAP is practiced regularly in the delivery room to encourage spontaneous breathing and promote surfactant production in the smallest infants. experts address some of the key issues in using CPAP in neonatal care.     2 Free CRCE   Link to Post-Test   (Issue 8)

Managing COPD Exacerbations in the Hospital and Home- Review of current recommendations and evidence related to the care of COPD patients with acute exacerbations To lessen the burden of this disease it is importan for healthcare providers to understand these current recommendations and guidelines. 2 Free CRCE    Link to Post-Test   (Issue 7)

Asthma Diagnosis, Treatment and Management Roundtable Discussion: How do you manage your asthma patients? -  Diagnosis involves several components - an assessment of the patient’s medical history, a physical exam, and spirometry. Treatment should be chosen based on an assessment of asthma severity and control, which are divided into domains of impairment and risk. Pharmacological therapy is aimed at both prevention and treatment of symptoms, & should occur in a stepwise fashion.  2 Free CRCE  Link to Post-Test (Issue 6)

3.0 CRCE approved by AARC, short registration, no AARC membership # required:

Gas Powered VORTRAN Automatic Resuscitator (VAR) for Short Term, Emergency Ventilation- Use the equipment needed to provide short term, emergency ventilation for the mechanically ventilated patients. Describe the different resuscitation methods. Describe the rationale for using an automatic resuscitator.  1.0 Free CRCE

“Plan B” beyond YO-YO 72™ (Course# 212207000) This CEU will assist in the development and application of an emergency response plan that will extend a facilities emergency response past the traditional 72 hour limit.  2.0 Free CRCE

Indirect Calorimetry in the Ventilated Patient-  Indirect calorimetry (IC) measures oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production as a way of assessing energy expenditure and thus determining nutritional needs.Three articles examine indirect calorimetry from both respiratory therapy and nutrition support perspectives, offering the clinicians a comprehensive, interdisciplinary view of how the collective expertise of these groups and the ICU teams can use IC to the patient’s greatest advantage. Practice scenarios and a discussion of various IC technologies are also included.  2.0 Free CRCE  (+RD)     Link to Post-test

Making Sense of Research- Fundamentals of research design. How to judge quality of publication. How to conduct a literature review. Evaluation of research methods, results and conclusions.  1.0 Free CRCE

Delivering, Documenting, and Communicating the Value of Respiratory Care- Provide a framework to categorize activities in support of departmental operations and overall organizational performance. Define the components of the framework in terms of financial, quality, and stakeholder satisfaction. Provide and describe examples for RT managers to utilize in their departments to document their activities in support of overall organization performance and success. Provide communication tools for RT managers to communicate the value of their department’s activities in support of overall organizational performance.   1.0 Free CRCE

Clinical Alarms and the Impact on Patient Safety- Address the issues facing clinicians regarding alarms including which parameters should be monitored, the sensitivity of the alarms as well as what we could expect from future alarm systems.     1.5 Free CRCE        Link to Post- Test 

Rapid Response- This one-hour computer based learning module has been designed for the bedside healthcare provider and members of the RRT as a primer on the importance of early identification of a patient in crisis, effective team communication during a crisis and rapid assessment and stabilization of the patient.  1.0 Free CRCE

Monitoring Oxygen Toxicity in the Preterm Infant: Mechanisms, Critical Questions and Clinical Challenges- Discuss appropriate strategies to minimize oxygen free radical injury to the developing eyes, brain, lung, and gastrointestinal tract. Describe the effects of oxygen toxicity on the developing nervous system. Identify the ideal limits for establishing Sp02 at specific gestational ages and postnatal ages. Describe the best initiatives to improve staff compliance to prescribed Sp02 limits   2.0 Free CRCE  (+MD)   Link to Post- Test

eCystic Fibrosis Review- Presented by the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the Institute for Johns Hopkins Nursing. To see if your state accepts AMA CME for education towards RT license renewal  CLICK HERE

New Inhalation Therapies- Evaluate the data used to support the approval of aztreonam lysine for inhalation incystic fibrosis. Describe the underlying rationale and data from clinical trials of dry powder mannitol in cystic fibrosis. Describe the rationale and data from clinical trials supporting the use of denufosol. 1 CME  Link to Post-Test

Pulmonary Exacerbation Therapies- Discuss the clinical implications of acute pulmonary exacerbations in cystic fibrosis. Describe the evidence that supports common treatment approaches to acute pulmonary exacerbation in cystic fibrosis. Explain the complexities of assessing antimicrobial resistance patterns via sputum isolates in cystic fibrosis. 1.0 CME  (+ MD, RN)   Link to Post-test

Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia/Care of Tracehostomy Tubes and Trach Patients-  Covers trach care, strategies to minimize morbidity and mortality in this patient population, patient and family education, and decisions regarding weaning and decannulation. Differences in adult versus pediatric populations are also highlighted. Discuss the different impact that early versus late tracheostomy has on outcomes on medical compared to surgical/trauma patients. List 4 reasons that a study may not show improved outcomes with early versus later tracheostomy. List the elements of the “ventilator bundle” and suggest at least three other clinician actions that can influence the development of VAP.  1.0 Free CRCE    Link to Post-test  (Vol 9. No. 3)

Tracheostomy: Procedure,Timing and Tubes- This presentation is designed to offer information on tracheotomy procedures and literature related to the timing of tracheotomy. The choice of the tracheostomy tube can have an impact on the evaluation and treatment of the tracheostomized patient, therefore, a description of the various tracheostomy tubes, types of cuffs and proper cuff maintenance will be given.  Case studies will be used to demonstrate the importance of selecting proper tube size and type, as it relates to upper airway assessment, swallowing, and communication options.

Describe the teaching/learning strategies, including the materials, resources & delivery methods for each content area. Explain how the timing of the tracheotomy & tracheostomy tube selection play a key role in the successful use of speaking valves. List complications of improper cuff management.

List how the tracheostomy tube and inflated cuff can impact swallowing and suggest ways to reduce clinical complications.  1.0 Free CRCE  (+ST)