Authors: James Wittenauer, RN, MSN, MPA, RN-BC, Diana Harland, BS, CCRC

This CE offering will examine Ebola virus disease (EVD) and the Zika virus. We will discuss the characteristics of the viruses, and how the diseases are spread. We will also look at prevention techniques within a community and what healthcare professionals can do to protect themselves, their patients, and their loved ones. For the Zika virus, we will also discuss the potential long-term serious effects in both infants and adults.

Learning outcomes include:

• Define Ebola virus with respect to its genera and species classification and its physical characteristics.
• Delineate the predominance of the Ebola virus with regard to epidemiology.
• Explain arboviral diseases and establish why Zika virus disease is a disease that is nationally notifiable.
• Describe the symptoms of Zika virus infection and how a diagnosis is made.

The goal of this course is to provide nurses and other health care professionals with a functional understanding of how genes contribute to disease, to help them recognize salient symptoms of the more common genetic diseases, and to train them how to guide patients to resources for coping with genetic disease and accessing treatment.

Learning Outcomes include:

• Understand DNA function, replication, and mutation and how it relates to disease.
• Describe symptoms, genetic cause, and available treatment for several genetic disorders.
• Describe genomic medicine and its inherent opportunities, risks, and impacts on healthcare.