NP Pulse: The Voice of the Nurse Practitioner (AANP)

On this episode of NP Pulse: The Voice of the Nurse Practitioner®, returning guests Ruth Carrico and Diane Padden share how they reenvisioned the Loretta Ford Visionary Leadership Program as an enhanced experience to guide NPs into developing practical leadership skills applicable to educational and entrepreneurial settings. Carrico and Padden discuss how they developed the revamped program and explain how NPs can apply today to become a part of the 2027 cohort.

On this accredited episode of NP Pulse: The Voice of the Nurse Practitioner®️, join esteemed faculty as they discuss the latest evidence-based guidance, including current recommendations and emerging updates in adult vaccination. The faculty will also be accompanied by two mothers who will share the powerful, impactful experiences of losing their daughters to a vaccine-preventable disease (VPD), meningitis.

Upon successful completion of this podcast, you will be able to:

• Explain the risk and burden of VPDs in adults, including the disproportionate impact among certain subpopulations caused by disparities in patient education and inequitable access.

• Review the latest Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) adult vaccination recommendations.

• Identify recent and emerging changes in the adult vaccination landscape.

• Identify strategies to facilitate the implementation of adult vaccination standards, particularly among vulnerable, minoritized adults and populations at risk for severe disease complications.

A participation code will be provided at the END of the podcast — make sure to write this code down. Once you have listened to the podcast and have the participation code, return to this activity in the AANP CE Center. Click on the "Next Steps" button of the activity and:

1. Enter the participation code that was provided.

2. Complete the activity posttest.

3. Complete the activity evaluation.

This will award your CE credit and certificate of completion. 1.0 CE will be available through July 31, 2027.

This educational activity is supported by an independent medical education grant from GSK.

Parkinson's disease – a chronic degenerative disorder – is diagnosed in 90,000 Americans annually. As our understanding and treatment of the disease continues to grow, nurse practitioners and other health care professionals continue to provide patients with the latest updates in care.

Joan Miravite is a nurse practitioner and expert on Parkinson’s disease, and is here to talk with us about the diagnostic criteria and progression of the disease; managing Parkinson’s through medication and surgical therapies; and much more.

Will you be attending the 2026 AANP National Conference? Dr. Miravite will be presenting the session “Parkinson’s Disease Primer” on Tuesday, June 23, 1:30-2:30 p.m.

John Manna became a nurse after witnessing the huge impact nurses could have on their patients on an overseas trip. Now an NP specializing in lifestyle medicine, he joins NP Pulse to share the six pillars of whole-person care, and walks us through the latest updates in GLP-1 usage, diabetes treatment and the importance of diet and exercise.

Over one million firefighters provide their life-saving services in the U.S today. Treating firefighters requires an awareness of the unique stressors they face, including cardiopulmonary risk, “invisible” exposures and more. To speak more about exposome-informed screening and treatment are nurse practitioner experts Mary Fox and Julian Gallegos. They use their unique expertise — including Gallegos’ work as a firefighter and Fox's experience as Occupational and Environmental Health Community co-chair  — to bring the challenges of caring for this important population to life.  

In this episode, Unfiltered — The Truth About Teen Vaping and Substance Use: Round Up on Adolescent Health PT5, we explore the realities of teen vaping, substance use and why both remain a critical issue for clinicians and caregivers. While youth vaping rates have slightly declined, it is still the most common form of tobacco use among adolescents, with evolving products and social influences making prevention and intervention increasingly complex. This conversation dives into the science behind adolescent risk-taking; the powerful influence of marketing and social media; and the neurological factors that make teens particularly vulnerable to substance use. Most importantly, the episode highlights how nurse practitioners can identify early warning signs, start meaningful conversations with teens and support healthier coping strategies.

Today’s guest on NP Pulse is Donna Willenbrock, an obesity specialist and expert in nutrition. Willenbrock begins by discussing the many connections between a healthy gut and a healthy menopause, and then guides us through hot topics related to staying well at any age — including hydration, physical activity and the many benefits of foods like raw broccoli and even dark chocolate. 

Experts in hypercortisolism and clinicians curious to learn more will find today’s episode of NP Pulse both enriching and relevant. Kathleen “KC” Arnold and Breanna Shenk join the podcast to explore how hypercortisolism manifests and share what NPs should always keep in mind when it comes to the disorder.

This podcast is made possible by Corcept Therapeutics.

Robin Arends returns to NP Pulse to speak about an important topic: navigating dementia care. Arends discusses when to start screening patients for dementia, details the different types of dementia and offers suggestions to help older patients stay mentally active.

In this episode, Dr. Marissa Abram and Theodore Hudson explore how stigma around substance use disorder shows up in everyday interactions — and how those moments can either reinforce shame or support recovery. The podcast highlights the need for health care providers to model healthy relationships, engage with curiosity and foster an environment of hope and support for individuals navigating recovery.

 

Objectives:

• Identify at least one way stigma related to substance use disorder can manifest in clinical relationships.

• Explain how everyday clinical interactions can influence recovery for people with substance use disorder.

• Describe two practical strategies clinicians can use to reduce shame and support autonomy in brief or high-pressure encounters.

A participation code will be provided at the end of the podcast — make sure to write this code down. Once you have listened to the podcast and have the participation code, return to this activity in the [link to activity in CE Center]. Click on the "Next Steps" button of the activity and:

1. Enter the participation code that was provided.

2. Complete the posttest.

3. Complete the activity evaluation.

This will award your continuing education (CE) credit and certificate of completion.

0.83 of CE will be available through March 31, 2027

Funder statement: This activity is supported by an independent educational grant from the Opioid Analgesics REMS Program Companies (RPC).