Home » WKU offering one-hour online mental health course for nurses

WKU offering one-hour online mental health course for nurses

For nurses in agriculture areas

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (Sept. 25, 2015) — Western Kentucky University now offers an online continuing education program, “Nursing Responses to Mental Health Issues of Agricultural Populations,” to serve the mental health needs of farmers. The course teaches nurses how to identify sources of stress, recognize the manifestations of stress and evaluate the mental health status of farmers. Nurses receive one continuing education unit (CEU) and develop skills nurses need to help farmers decrease, modify or eliminate stress that leads to serious mental health issues.

wku“When crops and livestock fail, the stress often becomes unbearable,” said Susan Jones, Professor Emerita in WKU’s School of Nursing and the Institute for Rural Health. “Nurses can make a positive impact on the mental health of farmers if they are trained to identify those who are at risk and help them deal with their issues.”

The program was developed by WKU School of Nursing faculty, and funded in part by CDC/NIOSH grant. Staff from the Division of Extended Learning & Outreach (DELO) also provided instructional design, marketing and participant enrollment support through Distance Learning, DELO marketing and Lifelong Learning.

“This interactive CE program is relevant, well-designed, and needed,” said Vivian McClellan, Corporate Director of Education and Development at Commonwealth Health Corporation. “The program offers evidence-based strategies for health care professionals when caring for this occupational group.”

The fee for the one-hour online program is $7, and it is available anytime. To register for this course, visit http://www.wku.edu/lp/nursing-ce-ag.php.