AORN Journal
Volume 90, Issue 6 , Pages 852-866, December 2009

The Enigma of the H1N1 Flu: Are You Ready?

  • Kay Ball, PhD, RN, CNOR, FAAN

      Affiliations

    • Kay Ball, PhD, RN, CNOR, FAAN, is a perioperative consultant and educator for K & D Medical, Inc, Lewis Center, OH. As a stockholder of Steris Corp, Mentor, OH, Ms Ball acknowledges an affiliation that could be perceived as a potential conflict of interest in publishing this article.

ABSTRACT 

This flu season, health care providers must be prepared to treat patients who have the seasonal flu and also those who have contracted a novel strain of the H1N1 influenza virus. Although H1N1 flu is sometimes incorrectly called “swine flu,” the virus is transmitted from person to person; it cannot be contracted from pigs or from eating pork products.

Symptoms of the H1N1 flu include fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, body aches, lethargy, and fatigue, which usually appear in rapid succession. People at high risk include children, pregnant women, and those with certain medical conditions. The most common cause of death from the virus is respiratory failure, but other causes of mortality include sepsis, dehydration, and electrolyte imbalance. The first line of defense against H1N1 flu is vaccination. Treatment includes use of antiemetics, antipyretics, and respiratory support. AORN J 90 (December 2009) 852–862. © AORN, Inc, 2009.

Key words:  H1N1 virus , swine flu , influenza

 

 Complete this CE activity online at aorn.org/CEEditor's note: An unedited version of this article was published online at http://www.aornjournal.org in October 2009. This article replaces that version and becomes the article of record. Information about the H1N1 virus is expanding and changing daily. For the most current information, consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at http://www.cdc.gov. indicates that continuing education contact hours are available for this activity. Earn the contact hours by reading this article and taking the examination on pages 863–864 and then completing the answer sheet and learner evaluation on pages 865–866. The contact hours for this article expire December 31, 2012.Editor's note: Tamiflu is a registered trademark of Hoffman-La Roche, Inc (Roche), Nutley, NJ. Relenza is a trademark of GlaxoSmithKline plc, Middlesex, United Kingdom.The behavioral objectives and examination for this program were prepared by Rebecca Holm, RN, MSN, CNOR, clinical editor, with consultation from Susan Bakewell, RN, MS, BC, director, Center for Perioperative Education. Ms Holm and Ms Bakewell have no declared affiliations that could be perceived as potential conflicts of interest in publishing this article.This program meets criteria for CNOR and CRNFA recertification, as well as other continuing education requirements.AORN is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.AORN recognizes these activities as continuing education for registered nurses. This recognition does not imply that AORN or the American Nurses Credentialing Center approves or endorses products mentioned in the activity.AORN is provider-approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number CEP 13019. Check with your state board of nursing for acceptance of this activity for relicensure.

PII: S0001-2092(09)00867-9

doi:10.1016/j.aorn.2009.11.048

AORN Journal
Volume 90, Issue 6 , Pages 852-866, December 2009

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