• This is an ON-DEMAND COURSE and is taught virtually using the Academy Learning Portal. 
• The winter session runs from January 16 to March 27, 2025. 
• New this year! There will be one optional live office hour with Shirley Ryan AbilityLab staff to allow the opportunity for live interaction with the course material.

DESCRIPTION: This interprofessional nine-session course will follow the path of recovery for a patient with a severe Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Esteemed faculty will lead participants through the different stages, starting from disorders of consciousness (DOC) (Rancho Los Amigos I-III) and then into the challenging Rancho IV population where behavior and agitation/aggression is often seen. Physicians, clinicians and nurses will provide a strong foundation of knowledge, as well as practical suggestions and applications. The course will explore various recovery periods, including confusion, Post-traumatic Amnesia (PTA) and increasing awareness and independence. Participants will also explore the pediatric aspect of interprofessional evaluation, intervention and education across a range of ages. Integral therapeutic processes such as self-regulation, return to meaningful activity and facilitation, will be addressed. Finally, the course will delve into the topic of ethics and decision-making, concluding with a discussion on how to handle these critical aspects of patient care. By the end of the course, you will have a deep understanding of the TBI recovery process, along with practical skills and knowledge to help patients at different stages of recovery. 

Click Here to Download the Course Brochure

Click Here to Download the Winter 2025 Course Syllabus

 
SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION: Participants will complete 16 hours (17 hours for Nursing) of asynchronous self-study activities including video lectures and discussions, readings, questions, scoring video clips and a case study. This program is designed to allow the learner to progress at their own pace. It is recommended that each of the nine sessions be completed within one week. The required assignments will be available during the 11 weeks that the course content is available.  There will be one optional live office hour each offering with Shirley Ryan AbilityLab staff to allow the opportunity for live interaction with the course material. Learners will be required to complete the entire course satisfactorily by Thursday, March 27, 2025 for the Winter offering.

AUDIENCE: Advanced Practice Nurses, Nurses, Occupational Therapists, Occupational Therapy Assistants, Physical Therapists, Physical Therapist Assistants, Physician Assistants, Physicians (not for CME), Psychologists, Social Workers and Speech-language Pathologists.

LEARNER OUTCOMES: Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Define coma, the vegetative state and the minimally conscious state
• Utilize the Agitated Behavior Scale (ABS) to rate a patient’s level of agitation and use it as a communication tool
• Describe an interdisciplinary team approach to behavior management to facilitate the participation of the patient with agitated-like behaviors in a rehabilitation setting
• Develop an interdisciplinary plan of care for patients in the Rancho V, VI, VII stages of TBI recovery
• Identify common cognitive problems associated with Ranchos Level VIII to X following TBI
• Analyze the impact of a TBI on a pediatric patient
• Describe how the use of goal attainment scaling promotes goal achievement and the development of self-regulation after brain injury
• Apply knowledge of differences in clients with TBI and family caregiver perspectives, clinical biases and ethical dilemmas when discussing real-world safety risk case studies

CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDIT:

Nursing:

Shirley Ryan AbilityLab is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. This CNE is being offered for 17.0 contact hours of continuing nursing education including 0.83 pharmacology contact hours. 

In order to receive contact hours for the on-demand self-study, nurses must attend the entire course and complete the evaluation.

Occupational Therapy:

Shirley Ryan AbilityLab is an AOTA Approved Provider of professional development. Course approval ID# 1036. This distance learning independent course is offered at 1.6 CEUs [intermediate level, Foundational knowledge/ OT Service Delivery]. AOTA does not endorse specific course content, products, or clinical procedures.

Physical Therapy: This online course has been approved by the Illinois Physical Therapy Board for 16.0 Contact Hours (16 hours self-study). Approval #216-000069.

The Shirley Ryan AbilityLab is recognized by California and the New York State Education Department's State Board for Physical Therapy as an approved provider of physical therapy and physical therapist assistant continuing education for 16.0 Contact Hours (16.0 hours self-study) on 4/11/2024.

Satisfies continuing education requirements in: CT, IA, MN and WA

Speech-Language Pathologists:

TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENTS: To participate, you will need access to a computer or device with an internet connection. If you are joining from home, high-speed broadband access (LAN, Cable or DSL) is highly recommended. Wi-fi will be available for those attending in-person. 

• Internet connection: broadband wired or wireless (3G or better)
• Web browser with latest stable version downloaded: Apple Safari, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Microsoft Edge
• JavaScript and Cookies enabled
• Speaker or headset to listen to audio files and participate in Zoom calls
• Do NOT use Internet Explorer, as it is not supported.