Day 2 :
Keynote Forum
Nizar Abdul Majeedkutty
Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Malaysia
Keynote: Physical therapy for diabetic peripheral neuropathy: A narrative review category
Time : 09:30-10:15
Biography:
Nizar Abdul Majeedkutty is an astute Physical Therapist and sagacious rehab science researcher currently working as Head of Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Malaysia. His research interest spans a variety of topics in physical activity, multi-sensory reweighting, sedentary behavior and diabetic peripheral neuropathy. He has presented his research findings at international conferences, published articles in prolific journals and was awarded with scholarships and research grants. He serves as an Associate Editor and Reviewer for high end academic journals from United States. He has also served as the Head of Department of Physical therapy at Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala, India. He has obtained his Post graduate degree in Physical Therapy from Mahatma Gandhi University, India.
Abstract:
Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is the most common complication of diabetes mellitus both in developed and developing countries. It is found in about 10% of diabetic patients at diagnosis and in the majority of patients 25 years later on. Patients with pre-diabetes may also develop neuropathies that are similar to diabetic neuropathies. Loss of feeling in the lower limbs is a high risk for limb amputation. Extremely long axons originating in the small neuronal body are vulnerable on the most distal side as a result of mal-nutritional axonal support or environmental insults. Sparse vascular supply with impaired auto-regulation is likely to cause hypoxic damage in the nerve. Such dual influences exerted by long-term hyperglycemia are critical for peripheral nerve damage, resulting in distal-predominant nerve fiber degeneration. Despite efforts to make an early diagnosis and to halt the progression of diabetic neuropathy, currently there is no effective treatment available at a global level, except for tight control of blood glucose. Physical therapy can improve the overall quality of life of diabetes mellitus patients with peripheral neuropathy and alleviate them from the symptoms of diabetic neuropathy. This article reviews the different treatment strategies used in physical therapy to manage diabetic peripheral neuropathy and presents evidence and conditions for its applications.
Keynote Forum
Tamera Pearson
Western Carolina University, USA
Keynote: Confirming nurse practitioner student competence with simulated clinical exams
Time : 10:15 am to 11: 00 am
Biography:
Tamera Pearson is a Professor and the Director of the Family Nurse Practitioner program at Western Carolina University - School of Nursing. She has 20 years of involvements in nursing education, teaching undergraduate and graduate level students both in the classroom and online. She has published more than 15 articles on clinical and education topics in reputable journals. Additionally, she brings many years of practical nursing experience and maintains clinical practice as a Nurse Practitioner in conjunction with her faculty role.
Abstract:
Utilizing simulation to assess nurse practitioner student’s clinical competency ensures an opportunity to validate specific knowledge and advanced practice skills. This presentation will provide an overview of the development of low-fidelity simulation scenarios for clinical competency examinations. Such exams are scheduled throughout the curriculum to allow intermittent observation of student performance and ensure achievement of specific skills and to contribute to the cumulative evaluation of clinical competence. Simulated clinical competency exams also serve as summative evaluation to assess student outcomes toward the end of a various clinical courses. To effectively implement clinical competency exams within a nurse practitioner program clear processes and policies are needed to provide guidance for both faculty and students. Specific topics for simulation scenarios can be identified and mapped across the clinical courses to ensure that a variety of clinical issues are represented while avoiding duplication. Components and examples of simulations scenarios for specific patient populations (adult, pediatric, geriatric) will be presented along with the grading rubric used to evaluate clinical competency.