NEWS FOR NURSES

(And Other Health Professionals)

NEW ONLINE COURSE FOR CE CREDIT FROM MNA:

“Fragrance Free! Creating a Safe Health Care Environment”

Course Description: Chemical fragrances may seem like a natural part of modern American life, but in fact, they are anything but natural. These petroleum-based products, many of which contain known carcinogens, are produced with virtually no regulation by the FDA, and their widespread use is turning the modern health care environment-and the rest of the world-into Chemical Soup. Fragrance Free! looks at the hidden costs of chemical fragrance use in the health care industry, including the growth of allergies and potentially debilitating conditions such as chemical sensitivity. The course discusses how to recognize the beginnings of chemical sensitivity, while offering alternatives to fragranced produces and common sense steps to reduce chemical fragrances in the health care environment.

Introduction: Though we seldom give them much thought, fragrances pervade our lives. We wear perfumes and colognes to make ourselves more appealing. We wash our clothes in scented detergents and household cleaning products are full of smell—pine and lemon, just to name two. But what goes into them? It turns out that most of these fragrances are synthetic chemicals, introduced into our environment with only minimal safety testing. Many of the ingredients of these chemical fragrances are known to have negative health effects. Respiratory and nervous system illnesses rise right along with the use of chemical fragrances.

Learning Objectives: The goal of this program is to ensure a safe and therapeutic environment for both patient and nurse to interact in. The elimination of fragrance is a choice the nurse can make to help ensure a healthier environment for both patients and workers. On completion of this program, you should be able to:

1. Identify the most common chemicals used in fragrance products

2. Identify adverse reactions to scented and fragrance products

3. Define the concept of the “Chemical Soup” in the air we breathe at work and at home

4. Describe steps that can be taken to reduce reactions in chemically sensitive people

Accreditation: This online continuing nursing education activity is provided by the Massachusetts Nurses Association, which is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.

Program Requirements: To successfully complete this program and receive contact hours, you must read the entire program, take and pass the Post-Test, and complete the Program Evaluation. To pass the Post-Test, you must achieve a score of 80% or above.

Eligibility: Anyone can take the credit and convert to their disciplined area of study. (For example, LPNs are using it). The credits are good throughout the nation.

NOTE: Congratulations to our own TIP Board member, Chris Pontus, M.S., COHN-S, CCM, Health Educator with the Massachusetts Nurses Association, for her hard work on preparing this course!

TO ACCESS THE COURSE: To register go to http://www.courseserver.com/mna/ and click on “REGISTER”. The subscription code for members is mna001, non-Members is mna002, and students is mna003. Fill out all of the fields in the form and press submit. This information is also listed on the Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA) website at www.massnurses.org/ce/onlineCE.htm For more information, contact the Division of Health and Safety at 781-830-5723.