Course 1: Understanding Multiple Sclerosis (2024-)

Course 1: Understanding Multiple Sclerosis (2024-)

It is important for nurses to have an appreciation of the pathophysiology contributing to the development of Multiple Sclerosis (MS). This course will provide the essential concepts and information required to answer patients’ questions about what causes their disease and how the disease will affect their future life.

What you will learn

After completing this course, you should be better able to:

  • Appreciate the importance of understanding the pathophysiology of MS as a foundation for making decisions concerning the management of MS
  • Identify the various types of MS and know their natural history and progression
  • State the genetic, race, gender and environmental factors which affect the incidence of MS
  • Describe the structure of the nervous system and how its function is altered by MS
  • Explain the function of the immune system and how its role is disrupted by MS
  • Describe the underlying pathophysiological causes of the most common symptoms associated with MS
  • Recognise that central to this is the inflammation and demyelination of axons which disrupts neural conduction
  • Appreciate that cortical pathology may determine cognitive disability in MS.


Target Audience

This activity has been developed to meet the educational needs of nurses who have an interest in optimising the management of people with MS.

Duration

The estimated time to complete this Course is 5 hours.

Cost to enrol in the Course

There are no fees for participating or to receive the Certificate of Completion. This Course is thus free of charge.

Funds to create the Course and to keep MS Nurse PRO operational, are provided by our Sponsors. You can find the overview of our sponsors at our homepage.

Certificate of Completion

A certificate of completion will be available to download upon completion of a course. 

This Certificate can be downloaded from the 'Certificates' section of 'My-Learning'. It can also be printed.

To receive your Certificate of Completion, students must:

  • Read the learning objectives
  • Participate in the entire educational activity, consisting of a pre-survey, a Course, a post-survey and an exam. 
  • Pass the exam; a 75% pass mark is required

IMPORTANT: All sections must be marked 'Complete', before you receive the certificate.

CME Credits/Accreditation

Upon successful completion of all 5 courses which make up the Foundation Programme, you will be provided with a Certificate of Accreditation. This Certificate can be downloaded from the 'Certificates' section of 'My-Learning'. It can also be printed.


Practical Information

Time To Complete
300 minutes
Released
11/08/2024
Last Updated
11/08/2024
Enrollments
222
Includes
Exam Pre-survey Post Survey
Languages
Dutch French English German Greek Norwegian Polish Portuguese Romanian Spanish Italian Czech Hungarian

Course Sections

  • Introduction to the course
  • 1.0 Demographics
  • 1.1 The epidemiology of MS
  • 1.1.1 MS across the world
  • 1.1.2 MS by gender and age
  • 1.1.3 MS survival
  • 1.2 Definition and classification of MS
  • 1.2.1 Clinically isolated syndrome
  • 1.2.2 Relapsing-remitting MS
  • 1.2.3 Secondary-progressive MS
  • 1.2.4 Primary-progressive MS
  • 1.3 The clinical course of MS over time
  • 1.4 Contributing factors
  • 1.4.1 Race/ethnicity
  • 1.4.2 Age
  • 1.4.3 Gender
  • 1.4.4 Genetics and inheritance
  • 1.4.5 Vitamin D
  • 1.4.6 Stress
  • 1.4.7 Smoking
  • 1.4.8 Viral factors
  • 1.4.9 Obesity
  • 1.4.10 Nursing Tip
  • 1.5 Summary
  • Reflection and references
  • 2.0 Understanding the causes of MS
  • 2.1 Overall structure of the healthy nervous system
  • 2.1.1 The brain
  • 2.1.2 Neurons and glial cells
  • 2.1.3 Neuroplasticity
  • 2.1.4 The blood brain barrier
  • 2.1.5 Spinal cord
  • 2.1.6 Summary
  • 2.2 The overall function of the healthy immune system
  • 2.2.1 Innate and adaptive immunity
  • 2.2.2 Innate immunity
  • 2.2.3 Adaptive immunity
  • 2.2.4 Summary
  • 2.3 Pathophysiology of MS
  • 2.3.1 The MS lesion
  • 2.3.2 The main pathological processes: Inflammation and neurodegeneration
  • 2.3.3 Cells involved in the pathogenesis of MS
  • 2.3.4 Mechanisms underlying progression in MS
  • 2.3.5 Summary
  • Reflection and references
  • Course summary
  • Case 1: My parents both have MS – am I going to get it too?
  • Case 1 continues
  • Case conclusion and key learning points
  • Case 2: I have heard that low vitamin D levels are linked with MS - is this what caused my MS and where do supplements fit in?
  • Case 2 continues
  • Case conclusion and key learning points
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