COPD Made Practical (4.0 CE)

Course Info

COPD Made Practical (4.0 CE)

Author: NIHE Faculty

Target Audience: RN, APRN, LPN/LVN

Contact Hours: 4.0

Course Created On: June 29, 2026

Course Expires On: June 29, 2028

COURSE SUMMARY

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is one of the most common chronic respiratory disorders encountered in nursing practice and remains a leading cause of hospitalization, disability, and death worldwide. Nurses caring for patients with COPD must be able to recognize disease progression, identify acute exacerbations, safely administer oxygen therapy, manage medications, provide patient education, and intervene early to reduce complications. This practical continuing education course provides a comprehensive review of COPD using an easy-to-understand, clinically relevant approach designed specifically for bedside nurses. Learners will gain confidence in assessing patients with COPD, understanding current treatment recommendations, recognizing respiratory deterioration, and applying evidence-based nursing interventions to improve patient outcomes.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) affects millions of individuals worldwide and remains one of the leading causes of chronic illness, hospitalization, and mortality. COPD encompasses chronic bronchitis and emphysema, two progressive disorders characterized by airflow limitation, chronic inflammation, and impaired gas exchange. Because COPD patients are encountered in virtually every healthcare setting—including medical-surgical units, emergency departments, intensive care units, home health, long-term care, rehabilitation, and outpatient clinics—every nurse should possess a practical understanding of the disease process and its management.¹

Although COPD cannot be cured, evidence-based treatment has dramatically improved quality of life, reduced exacerbations, and prolonged survival. Nurses play a vital role in early recognition, respiratory assessment, medication administration, oxygen management, patient education, smoking cessation counseling, pulmonary rehabilitation, and prevention of hospital readmissions. This course presents COPD from a practical nursing perspective, emphasizing clinical reasoning rather than memorization. Participants will learn to recognize common clinical presentations, safely manage oxygen therapy, understand current pharmacologic treatments, identify acute exacerbations, and educate patients to better manage this lifelong disease.²

COMPLETION REQUIREMENTS

Read the entire course.

Complete all review questions and course evaluation.

DISCLOSURE OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST AND RELEVANT FINANCIAL RELATIONSHIPS

Neither National Institute for Healthcare Education nor any authors, planners, content experts, or contributors have any relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose.

ACCREDITATION STATEMENT

National Institute for Healthcare Education is approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider #13886, for continuing education credit.

DISCLAIMER

The information provided in this course is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for the independent medical judgment of a healthcare provider in considering diagnosis and treatment options for a particular patient’s medical condition. Copyright © 2026. All rights reserved. No part of the materials may be reproduced without the express written consent of TopNurseCE.com Professional Educational Institution. The content of this course is intended to provide general information on the topics covered. This information has been prepared by experts with practical experience in the subject matter. This should not be considered medical, legal, or professional advice. TopNurseCE.com recommends that individuals contact a licensed medical, legal, or professional provider in their respective state. While TopNurseCE.com uses reasonable efforts to ensure that all content provided in this course is accurate and current at the time of publication, TopNurseCE.com makes no representations as to its applicability to your particular situation. No guarantees are given and reliance on them does not constitute liability.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

After completing this activity, the learner will be able to:

1. Describe the pathophysiology of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
2. Identify common risk factors, clinical manifestations, and diagnostic methods used to evaluate patients with COPD.
3. Discuss evidence-based treatment of stable COPD and acute exacerbations.
4. Apply appropriate nursing interventions, oxygen therapy, medication management, and patient education strategies for individuals with COPD.
5. Recognize early signs of respiratory deterioration and implement appropriate interventions to improve patient outcomes.

COURSE OUTLINE

1. Why COPD Matters in Modern Nursing Practice
2. Understanding COPD: Chronic Bronchitis and Emphysema
3. Risk Factors and Prevention
4. Assessment and Diagnosis
5. Acute COPD Exacerbations
6. Oxygen Therapy Made Practical
7. Medications Used to Treat COPD
8. Nursing Management of the COPD Patient
9. Patient Education and Long-Term Disease Management
10. Practical Nursing Case Studies
11. Preventing Hospital Readmissions
12. Documentation and Clinical Application
13. Key Points for Nursing Practice