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

139. Treating Patients with Diabetes: New Tools For NPs

Diabetes is an ancient affliction, but medical breakthroughs and new tools are constantly being developed to assist health care providers in treating patients with the disease. To speak about these new innovations on NP Pulse is Dr. Eligio David P. Soliman Jr., a diabetes expert and NP based in San Diego. Soliman discusses the relationship between COVID-19 and diabetes, some of the recent advances in diabetes care and the importance of communicating with patients.

If you’re interested in endocrinology, the AANP Endocrine Community offers a unique opportunity to collaborate with colleagues who share interest or clinical expertise in diabetes care. As an AANP Community member, you’ll have access to a cutting-edge, online forum where you can engage in discussions, document sharing and knowledge exchange with your fellow NPs.

138. Teen Dating Violence: Round Up on Adolescent Health PT1 (CE)

In the first of four episodes on adolescent health, hosts Jessica Peck and Ashley Hodges draw on their 65 years of combined experience to tackle teen dating violence from a health care and prevention perspective. They discuss the prevalence of dating violence among high schoolers, adolescent risk-taking behaviors and the role of brain development in decision making. The episode explores cultural shifts like online dating, sexting, image-based abuse, cyberbullying and the psychological impact of pornography. Emphasizing open communication, education on healthy relationships and strategies for addressing dating violence, our hosts aim to empower parents and teens to navigate these complex issues with understanding and support. While this podcast is intended for the continuing education of nurse practitioners, AANP encourages you to share with adolescent patients, parents and teachers!

To claim 1.0 contact hours of continuing education (CE) credit for this program, log in to the CE Center, search for this program by name and complete the post-test and evaluation by entering the participation code that is given after listening to the podcast.

137. AANP at 40: Four Decades of Dedication and Advocacy

This year, AANP celebrates its 40th anniversary. What began as an idea sprouted under an apple tree in Jan Towers’ backyard has become an organization representing the interests of more than 385,000 licensed NPs in the country. Sharing their reminiscences of AANP and the NP role from the 80s until today are a group of NPs pivotal in the history of AANP — Elayne DeSimone, Richard Ricciardi, Kim Curry and Stephen Ferrara — who speak about their contributions to AANP and what they hope the future holds for all NPs. 

136. Happiness for the HEALTH of It! (CE)

This podcast explores the powerful link between happiness science and well-being, rooted in the evidence-based principles of positive psychology and lifestyle medicine. We'll begin with a brief overview of the six pillars of lifestyle medicine — nutrition, physical activity, sleep, stress management, positive social connections and avoidance of risky substances — and their crucial role in health care. We'll then delve into how lifestyle choices directly impact disease, demonstrating how modifications can improve chronic disease management, prevention and overall thriving. A key focus will be on the profound impact of social connections and positive emotions on longevity, and on physical and emotional health. Finally, we'll explore how integrating these lifestyle pillars with positive psychology creates a synergistic path to flourishing and a higher quality of life.

To claim 1.0 contact hours of continuing education (CE) credit for this program, log in to the CE Center, search for this program by name and complete the post-test and evaluation by entering the participation code that is given after listening to the podcast.

Download the Happiness for the HEALTH of it! references here

135. Lipid Management with Dr. Colleen Walsh-Irwin

Dr. Colleen Walsh-Irwin joined NP Pulse to discuss updated treatment guidelines for hyperlipidemia and much more. Walsh-Irwin has been an NP for almost thirty years and runs a national program for evidence-based practice. In addition to discussing new medications for treating hyperlipidemia, Walsh-Irwin shares how she utilizes her own visual aides to help her patients understand their health issues and treatment. 

And for all things Cardiovascular related, consider joining the AANP Community group: Cardiology Specialty Practice, which offers the opportunity to interactively collaborate with colleagues who share interest or clinical expertise on the subject. 

134. Exploring the Newest Cardiovascular Guidelines

On this episode, Margaret “Midge” Bowers returns to NP Pulse to discuss all things cardiovascular, with a focus on the newest atrial fibrillation and congestive heart failure guidelines. Bowers and Sophia Thomas also discuss new medications, the importance of communication between patient and provider — and why it is so necessary for NPs to “treat the person, not the number.” 

If you are interested in learning more from Midge on this subject, listen to NP Pulse episode 106. Four Pillars of Medications for Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction and gain CE credit by going to the AANP CE Center here. CE credit is offered until February 2025.

Please also consider joining the AANP Community group: Cardiology Specialty Practice, which offers the opportunity to interactively collaborate with colleagues who share interest or clinical expertise on the subject. 

133. Sickle Cell Disease: Shifting Paradigms in Optimal Management for NPs (CE)

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a condition of immense and multifarious clinical gravity causing acute pain, joint damage, anemia and risk of infection, stroke, delayed growth in children and adolescents — as well as long-term organ dysfunction. However, recent evolutions in treatment options offer promising novel and emerging therapeutics poised to truly revolutionize SCD care. On this episode of NP Pulse: The Voice of the Nurse Practitioner^®, nurse practitioner (NP) specialists Sheryl Mitchell and Artangela Henry guide NPs to achieve the following learning objectives:

• Describe the epidemiologic patterns, pathophysiologic principles and robust patient burden of SCD.
• Examine current best practices for SCD diagnosis, highlighting the fundamental importance of early disease detection, characterization and linkage to treatment.
• Evaluate the established and evolving therapeutic landscape for SCD, with a focus on recent regulatory approvals and emerging trial data for novel agents.
• Design individualized, evidence-driven treatment plans for patients with SCD that mitigate disease complications and improve quality of life.
• Identify residual unmet needs in the SCD treatment paradigm and discuss the role of ongoing research and comprehensive, multidisciplinary care strategies in closing these gaps.

This program and the accompanying clinical resource tool were made possible by a medical education grant from Vertex. 

Continuing education (CE) credit for this program may be claimed through Dec. 31, 2025. To claim credit for this program, log in to the CE Center, search for this program by name and complete the post-test and evaluation by entering the participation code that is given after listening to the podcast.

132. LARC: Making the Case for Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (CE)

Making the Case for Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (CE)
Long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) is a very effective means of preventing an unintended pregnancy. The CDC recommends that clinicians provide patients with information about the effectiveness of all contraceptive options that they are medically eligible for. However, primary care providers and nurse practitioners report discussing LARC in less than half of their contraceptive counseling encounters. On today’s episode, nurse practitioners Barb Dehn and Dr. Joan Zaccardi discuss the vital role of the NP in contraceptive counseling and the importance of including LARC as a contraceptive option.
A participation code will be provided at the END of the podcast – make sure to write this code down. One you have listened to the podcast and have the participation code, return to this activity in the CE Center. Click on the "Next Steps" button of the activity and

1. Enter the participation code that was provided
2. Complete the post-test
3. Complete the activity evaluation
   This will award your CE credit and certificate of completion. 0.75 CE, 0.5 RX, will be available through December 31, 2025.

 

This activity is partially supported by an educational grant from CooperSurgical. The remainder is funded by AANP.

Resources: U.S. Selected Practice Recommendations for Contraceptive Use, 2024 (cdc.gov)

131.Patient-Centric Management of Bipolar Disorder: Best Practices for NPs (CE)

Bipolar disorder (BD) is challenging to differentiate from other psychiatric conditions due to its complexity and spectral nature. In fact, approximately 70% of patients with BD are without an accurate diagnosis, evidence-based treatment and management. In this episode of NP Pulse, "Patient Centric Management of Bipolar Disorder: Best Practices for Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment," nurse practitioner (NP) experts Braden Kameg and Lisa Anderson discuss ways in which NPs in primary care, psychiatric and mental health settings may decrease diagnostic delays and avoid misdiagnoses.

Learning objectives for this activity include:

• Review the prevalence, pathophysiology and clinical gravity of BD.
• Examine evolving screening and assessment best practices to facilitate early and accurate differential BD diagnosis and linkage to treatment.
• Evaluate the evidentiary base for novel and recently approved BD pharmacotherapies, with a focus on tailored treatment planning for individual patients.
• Design data-driven and patient-centric treatment plans for BD that integrate patient-specific factors, disease-specific factors and actively incorporate the patient voice.

This activity has expired and CE credit can no longer be claimed

A clinical reference tool in English and Spanish is available for download:

AANP_Bipolar_Clinician_Tool_English.pdf 

AANP_Bipolar_Clinician_Tool_Spanish.pdf

 

This activity is supported by an independent educational grant from Alkermes

130. Resting in the Uncomfortable

Clear and honest communication between patients and providers is key to establishing a shared understanding of both wellness and illness. On this episode of NP Pulse, Dr. Martha Francis and Sarah Somers explore different frameworks for providers to better communicate delicate and often difficult news. They also share what it means to “rest in the uncomfortable,” and how they’ve learned to best support their patients in emotional times.