Course ID: FQNEWU311
Course Name: Guiding Families in Making Health Care Decisions
Credits: 1

This one contact hour home-study continuing education course addresses professional nursing responsibilities for guiding families through the maze of health and illness related information that is available from healthcare providers, the internet, and a variety of other sources. While there are many reputable sources of information available, there are also increasing sources of information that are not. Mechanisms for determining the reputation and accuracy of healthcare information will be presented, as well as the legal and ethical components to guiding families in making healthcare decisions.

About The Author: Dr. Susan M. Beidler
Dr. Susan M. Beidler is an Assistant Professor in the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing. She holds a masters degree in nursing, a masters degree in bioethics, and a PhD in nursing from the University of Pennsylvania. Additionally, she has a post-masters teaching certificate from the Robert Wood Johnson Regional Training Center for Nurse-Midwifery and Nurse Practitioner Faculty, University of Pennsylvania. She has been nationally certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner since 1983, and has also been nationally certified in rehabilitation nursing and diabetes education. Much of her professional nursing career has focused on teaching patients and families in a variety of community-based practices and providing primary healthcare for vulnerable patients.

Course Objectives:
Upon completion of this home-study continuing education course, the participant will be able to:

1. Define decision making.
2. Identify the five phases of decision making.
3. Explain the importance of respecting autonomy in decision making.
4. Discuss factors that contribute to the complexity of family decision making.
5. Explain legal and ethical considerations in family decision making.
6. Discuss the difference between competence and decision making capacity.
7. Identify sources of information that can assist with healthcare decision making.
8. Identify three principles for determining the reputation and accuracy of healthcare information.