Focus of the Month For Nurses

Designed for nurses, this course delves into a range of conditions that are uniquely prevalent among people assigned female at birth and intersex individuals with female reproductive organs. These conditions often go under-recognised and can profoundly affect health and quality of life. Conventional treatments sometimes fail to fully address these issues and can carry significant risks. With medical cannabis emerging as a promising alternative, this course offers evidence-based insights into its potential for managing symptoms of: Endometriosis Dysmenorrhoea Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) Postpartum Depression (PPD) Breast, ovarian, and uterine cancers Perimenopause and menopause Additionally, it covers critical pregnancy-related contraindications for medical cannabis. Healthcare professionals will gain crucial knowledge and skills to expand their therapeutic toolkit, integrating both traditional and cannabis-based approaches to enhance patient outcomes. This is an opportunity to stay at the forefront of medical advancements and provide innovative care options for your patients. Preview this course by watching the video above. Estimated Duration: 1 hour Access Duration: 12 months from date of purchase Learning Outcomes Upon completion of this module, you’ll be able to: Assess medical cannabis’ therapeutic potential for treating symptoms of dysmenorrhoea, endometriosis, PCOS, PMDD, PPD, menopause, and breast, ovarian and uterine cancers considering its pharmacological interaction with the condition’s pathophysiology and efficacy, and drawbacks of current recommended treatments Identify characteristics of suitable medical cannabis strains, compounds, product types and administration methods for treating symptoms of the particular condition affecting IAFABP Identify and explain pregnancy-related contraindications for using medical cannabis

When chronic pain from repeated injuries forced legendary basketballer Lauren Jackson into retirement, her journey to recovery became a complex challenge. But Lauren defied the odds, returning to the court to play in the Australian squad for the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup in 2022. This case study explores the challenges faced by female athletes in high-impact sports, including the prevalence of bone stress and joint injuries, the impact of hormonal factors, and the complexities of chronic pain management. It also addresses how medical cannabis was incorporated in Lauren's treatments. Healthcare practitioners will gain insights into: The pathophysiology of common injuries in female athletes, including bone stress and joint injuries Potential benefits and limitations of medical cannabis in managing chronic pain and aiding recovery Considerations for incorporating medical cannabis into treatment plans alongside conventional therapies. Strategies for discussing medical cannabis with patients while prioritiding safety and minimising risks Explore the evidence and evaluate how medical cannabis might fit within a broader approach to managing chronic conditions and sports-related injuries. Preview this module by watching the video above. Estimated Duration: 1 hour Access Duration: 12 months from date of purchase Learning Outcomes Upon completion of this module, you’ll be able to: Explain the pathophysiology of common conditions and impact-based sporting injuries for female athletes and identify common management strategies Discuss the potential benefits and limitations of medical cannabis as a treatment option for symptoms of chronic sporting injuries and recovery from surgery Discuss the potential benefits and limitations of medical cannabis as a treatment option for symptoms of endometriosis Explain how medical cannabis treatment may integrate into and influence prescribed opioid treatment outcomes and effects Identify suitable candidates for medical cannabis treatment Devise treatment plans that consider patient safety and minimise risk Facilitate clinical discussions with patients around medical cannabis as a therapeutic option in the management of chronic conditions, impact-based sporting injuries and recovery from surgery Disclaimer: Lauren has a financial interest in a medicinal cannabis company. Lauren is not receiving any financial remuneration from SAGED for her involvement in this case study.

A person with ovaries is typically born with about one million ovarian follicles.¹ By puberty, this number decreases to between 250,000 and 400,000¹, continuing to decline throughout life. Between the ages of 45-56, the diminishing ovarian follicle count leads to hormonal shifts that can cause various symptoms, including irregular menstruation and vasomotor or organ-related issues.¹ This transitional phase is known as perimenopause, while menopause marks the final menstrual cycle. This module explores the potential of medical cannabis to alleviate disruptive symptoms associated with menopause, offering an alternative option for symptom management. Preview this module by watching the video above. Estimated Duration: 1 hour Access Duration: 12 months from date of purchase Learning Outcomes Upon completion of this module, you’ll be able to: Explain the physiology, symptomatology and effects of menopause Identify conventional interventions for symptoms of menopause and describe their potential strengths and drawbacks Discuss medical cannabis' mechanisms of action and therapeutic potential for treating symptoms of menopause Identify considerations and risks for selecting medical cannabis products to treat symptoms of menopause References ¹ Peacock, Kimberly, and Kari M. Ketvertis. “Menopause.” NIH, StatPearls Publishing, Jan. 2024, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK507826/. Accessed 26 June 2024.

Sixty-year-old Jen was hesitant when she walked into the consultation room. She had been experiencing severe ankle pain caused by chronic regional pain syndrome and her treatments to date hadn’t done the trick. But medical cannabis? Wouldn’t she end up walking around “like a zombie”? To complicate matters further, Jen has a history of now-stable cardiovascular disease. THC and CBD can affect cardiac functioning and interact with common POAC drugs.  But, all hope was not lost! In this case study, find out how Jen’s team safely treated her pain and secondary insomnia using medical cannabis, and minimised psychotropic effects so she remained her lively, vital self throughout treatment. Preview this module by watching the video above. Estimated Duration: 1 hour Access Duration: 12 months from date of purchase Learning Outcomes Upon completion of this module, you’ll be able to: Explain the cardiac effects of medical cannabis Discuss the potential benefits and limitations of medical cannabis as a treatment option in patients with cardiac disease Facilitate clinical discussions with patients around medical cannabis as a therapeutic option in symptom management Apply critical safety considerations/risk mitigation strategies for patients presenting with cardiac concerns Discuss potential drug-drug interactions Provide medication safety education to patients around drug-drug interactions