Many healthcare professionals across the continuum of care are still recovering—mentally and physically—from ongoing staffing issues and unprecedented changes and challenges in care.

“As you reflect on the challenges of the past year and look toward 2024, it’s a great opportunity to assess what you need in terms of education, training and clinical support; to improve on what you think you know, and to refresh what you do know,” said Geoff Kass, director of Medline University.

Medline University offers unlimited access to nearly 300 free acute and post-acute care courses for clinicians and other healthcare professionals. They include 200 continuing education (CE or CEU) and shorter microlearning courses—along with webinars, posters, videos and specialty and care-specific programs and resources—all designed to help busy staff access the latest clinical information, meet CE requirements, reinforce protocols, improve efficiencies and outcomes, and practice self-care.

Start with self-care

“Perhaps the best place to start is a course to help you identify, prioritize and practice self-care,” said Brenda Kozak, DNP, MSN, RN, CNE. Medline offers two courses— a new 15-minute Microlearning course “Self-Care for Nurses,” and a more in-depth (1.0 CE) “Self-Care for Nurses.”

“Many nurses are feeling burned out and overwhelmed,” said Kozak. “In these challenging times, you have to take care of yourself first before you take care of your patients. If you’re not taking care of yourself, you’re not putting forth your best effort and care.”

The mobile-friendly Microlearning course takes less than 15 minutes to complete and provides an overview of the key concepts of self-care, the importance and benefits of self-care in the nursing profession, and several self-care strategies. The CE course provides more in-depth information and additional strategies, including guided meditation for reducing stress.

New Scholar Programs reward achievement

Medline University recently launched a Scholar Program allowing healthcare staff—nurses, nursing assistants, nursing home administrators, case managers, dietitians, nutritionists, physical therapists, and more—to complete designated courses in clinical categories and to earn a badge upon completion to showcase and share expertise. Currently, Medline University offers a Dementia Care Scholar Program comprised of three courses: “Dementia Care 1: “Mental Decline and Caregiving Challenges,” “Dementia Care 2: Physical Decline and Caregiving Challenges,” and “Dementia Care 3: Understanding and Managing Difficult Behavior.”

Next year, Medline University will launch additional Scholar Programs, beginning with clinical topics, including CAUTI Prevention, Infection Prevention, Vascular Access, Skin Health, Central Sterile, Mobility and Safe Patient Handling, and Respiratory care.

“Gaining valuable tools and information and receiving recognition from your peers and supervisors for this achievement—essentially, building your professional ‘brand’—are also important ways to take care of yourself,” said Kass of the Scholar Program.

Courses organized by topic, specialty and type of training

At Medline University, courses and resources are organized into specialty and care categories—from nutrition and geriatrics to pediatrics and respiratory —and by the type of training:

• CE courses provide high-quality, evidence-based continuing education at no cost for clinicians and healthcare professionals across the continuum of care. Topics include infection prevention, skin and wound care, safety, and community health.
• Programs offer broad clinical information, training and resources, including “know-how guides,” tool kits, downloadable resources, activities and case studies to help clinicians and teams implement and reinforce best practices.

Patient care programs focus on the following areas of care:

• Clinical Care Solutions
• Decolonization
• Perioperative Management
• Safe Mobility
• Skin Health Solution
• Sterile Processing
• Urological Solution
• Vascular Health Access Solution

To help healthcare and supply chain professionals find the courses they need, Medline University offers a downloadable course catalog along with weekly, live user training webinars throughout the year.

“As changes in healthcare occur rapidly, Medline University is continually updating and adding courses, webinars and additional resources to help improve and reinforce knowledge, efficiencies and patient care,” said Kass. “We’re your partners in life-long learning.”

Learn more about Medline University’s clinical education and training options that help caregivers stay on top of evidence-based best practices.