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

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: Enter the participation code that was provided. Complete the posttest. 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).

In this episode of NP Pulse: The Voice of the Nurse Practitioner®️, Drs. Erin Sinnaeve and Julianne Doucette discuss immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated food allergies, current prevention strategies, diagnostic best-practices and evolving treatment options — including early allergen introduction, oral immunotherapy and biologic therapies — to support safe, evidence-based care. Upon successful completion of this podcast, you will be able to: Review the pathophysiology and subsequent patient journey associated with IgE-mediated food allergies. Evaluate the trial data and practice-changing potential of monoclonal antibodies in a new era of food allergy management. Develop evidence-driven care plans focused on mitigating patient and caregiver burden, and safely and effectively reducing IgE-mediated reactions in patients with food allergies. 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 and follow these steps: Register for this activity. Click on the "Next Steps" button. Enter the participation code that was provided. Complete the activity evaluation. This will award your continuing education (CE) credit and certificate of completion. 1.25 CE will be available through March 31, 2027. This podcast is supported by an education grant from Genentech, a member of the Roche Group.

The American Association of Nurse Practitioners® (AANP) is proud to announce that AANP’s official podcast, NP Pulse: The Voice of the Nurse Practitioner®, has just surpassed one million downloads! Thank you for supporting this program across nearly 200 episodes. Whether you’re looking for discussions around the most important nurse practitioner (NP) topics, in-depth conversations with NPs or free continuing education (CE) credit from our accredited podcasts, we are proud to serve you as The Voice of the Nurse Practitioner®.

Robin Beach is an HIV specialist who began to turn a critical eye to the usefulness of body mass index (BMI) when it came to understanding the overall health of a patient. On the latest episode of NP Pulse: The Voice of the Nurse Practitioner®, she speaks with Sophia Thomas about using waist circumference as a way to measure the health of specific patient populations instead of BMI, and offers practical strategies for bringing this new tool into routine practice.

In this episode of NP Pulse: The Voice of the Nurse Practitioner®️, Dr. Kenneth Wells, Dr. Bowen Chung and Felica Jones will discuss the role of primary care providers in a collaborative care approach to depression treatment for adults living in under-resourced communities. Learn more about their research by reading the A Community-Partnered, Participatory, Cluster-Randomized Study of Depression Care Quality Improvement: Three-Year Outcomes study. Upon successful completion of this podcast, you will be able to: This episode was developed as part of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners’® (AANP) Clinical Effectiveness Research Initiative, which is funded by a Eugene Washington Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute Engagement Award (EADI #35224). 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 and follow these steps: This will award your continuing education (CE) credit and certificate of completion. 0.75 CE will be available through Feb. 29, 2028. Please see below for links to resources that the speakers mentioned in the episode. Community Partners in CareDepression Toolkit ResourcesTogether for Wellness

Nurse practitioner expert Paula Tucker returns to NP Pulse for a discussion on concussion. She gives advice on how to best identify and manage patients who present with concussion, and provides NPs with the assurance and tools they need to not feel overwhelmed when treating mTBI.

In this episode, Leslie Davis, PhD, ANP, FAANP, and nurse practitioner Linda Wellman discuss ANOCA/INOCA—angina or ischemia with no obstructive coronary arteries—an underdiagnosed condition affecting millions. Through expert commentary and lived experience, the conversation highlights why "normal" cardiac catheterization results can still miss serious heart disease. Listeners will hear Linda’s journey as a patient with ANOCA, learn about diagnostic challenges, treatment considerations, and the critical role nurse practitioners play in advocacy and care. While this condition affects both men and women, women with symptoms are more likely to be dismissed by health care providers, leading to delays in diagnosis and treatment. This episode calls for greater awareness to reduce delays, improve outcomes, and support patients whose symptoms have too often been dismissed.

On this episode of NP Pulse, we discuss the common causes of misdiagnosis and the red flags NPs can encounter on the road to diagnosing and treating rare diseases. Today’s guests are Stephanie Hosley and Deena Rodney, two NP experts who approach the topic of rare diseases with consideration and care. This podcast is made possible by Alexion.

In this episode of NP Pulse: The Voice of the Nurse Practitioner®️, Drs. Eric Lenze and Megan Morgenthaler will discuss evidence-based treatments for older adults living with treatment-resistant depression using the findings from the Antidepressant Augmentation versus Switch in Treatment-Resistant Geriatric Depression study. Treatment-resistant depression is a form of major depressive disorder that has not responded to at least two antidepressant treatments. Upon successful completion of this podcast, you will be able to: This episode was developed as part of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners’® (AANP) Clinical Effectiveness Research Initiative, which is funded by a Eugene Washington Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute Engagement Award (EADI #35224). 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 and follow these steps: This will award your continuing education (CE) credit and certificate of completion. 0.75 CE, 10 RX, will be available through Dec. 31, 2027. Please see below for links to resources that the speakers mentioned in the episode. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA)National Coalition on Mental Health and Aging (NCMHA)National Council on Aging (NCOA)

Supporting a patient who needs medication does not end when they receive their prescription. Many patients struggle with living in pharmacy deserts, have further questions when their local pharmacies are closed or have difficulty remembering when and what medications to take. Family nurse practitioner Hiva Kolondrubetz and Tess Carey — senior pharmacist and clinical advisor at Amazon Pharmacy — are today’s guests on NP Pulse, and they tackle the concerns NPs face when getting their patients to not only receive but also successfully take their prescribed medications. This podcast is made possible by Amazon.

On this compelling episode of NP Pulse: The Voice of the Nurse Practitioner®️, Drs. Jessica Peck and Ashley Hodges reveal shocking trends affecting our children — and address the added risk and pressures young people face with increased exposure to social media. Social media plays a powerful role in shaping adolescent risk-taking, especially as teen brains are still developing and highly sensitive to reward and peer validation. In this final episode of AANP’s adolescent health series, nurse practitioner (NP) experts Peck and Hodges explore how digital environments influence mental, physical and sexual health — and how clinicians and parents can respond. By normalizing developmentally appropriate risk, avoiding fear-based approaches and using strengths-based, motivational interviewing strategies, NPs can help teens navigate social media safely and support healthier decision-making in today’s high-stakes digital world.

Join endocrinology experts Sara MacLeod and Shannon Idzik as they explore the science and strategy behind effective obesity care, offering practical, evidence-based insights clinicians can apply right away. From navigating treatment options like lifestyle interventions, medications and surgery to fostering stigma-free, patient-centered conversations, this episode delivers real tools for improving outcomes. Whether you’re new to obesity management or looking to enhance your clinical approach, this discussion will inspire confidence and compassion in your practice. Objectives Evaluate clinical trial data providing evidence for the current obesity treatment landscape. Examine the pharmacotherapies for treatment of obesity. Summarize lifestyle factors and behavior change options available for people living with obesity, addressing stigma and bias. Develop a treatment plan for patients living with obesity that addresses their individual comorbidities, clinical risks and personal goals. Learners may claim CE credit for this program through Dec. 31, 2026, by participating in the full multi-module Clinical Advantage: Endocrinology Certificate for Advanced Practice Providers program available here. 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: Enter the participation code that was provided. Complete the posttest. Complete the other modules of the Clinical Advantage: Endocrinology Certificate for Advanced Practice Providers program. Complete the overall program evaluation. This activity is supported by independent educational grants from Ascendis Pharma Inc., Novo Nordisk Inc., and Xeris Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

On this accredited episode of NP Pulse: The Voice of the Nurse Practitioner®️, join esteemed faculty as they discuss the complex and often misunderstood condition of vasculitis. Explore the diagnostic challenges and strategies to support effective management of this condition to better enhance your practice while serving your patients well. Upon successful completion of this podcast, you will be able to: Differentiate common presentations of vasculitis from more routine primary care conditions. Apply evidence-based clinical reasoning to determine when suspected vasculitis requires referral to a specialist. Develop an appropriate referral plan, including patient communication and necessary diagnostic workup prior to specialty evaluation. 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: Enter the participation code that was provided. Complete the activity evaluation. This will award your continuing education (CE) credit and certificate of completion. .97 CE will be available through Dec. 31, 2027. Podcast Resources: https://vasculitisfoundation.org/

On this accredited episode of NP Pulse: The Voice of the Nurse Practitioner®️, expert faculty Drs. Korey Hood and Kathryn Evans-Kreider explore the psychosocial challenges of living with type 1 diabetes, with a focus on how nurse practitioners can support patients experiencing diabetes distress. Faculty discuss practical strategies, such as using brief screening tools, adopting person-first and strengths-based language and tailoring care through shared decision-making. The conversation also highlights the impact of SDOH and the importance of integrating mental health awareness into routine diabetes management. This podcast is part of the Clinical Advantage Bootcamp: Type 1 Diabetes Management Certificate for Nurse Practitioners. Visit the AANP CE Center to view the other modules. 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 posttest. 3. Complete the activity evaluation. This will award your continuing education (CE) credit and certificate of completion. 1.0 CE will be available through Nov. 30, 2027. Tool link : Diabetes_Billing_and_Coding_Toolkit.pdf This collaboration between AANP and Danatech, an Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists (ADCES) initiative, is made possible thanks to grants from Helmsley Charitable Trust, Abbott and Medtronic.

Are you ready to challenge everything you think you know about wound care? Don’t worry — on this episode of NP Pulse, you’ll be guided by the expertise of Laura Swoboda, a translational scientist, family nurse practitioner and wound specialist. Swoboda speaks about the history of wound care, and gives advice as to how everyone in health care can approach wound care armed with confidence and the most up-to-date developments in the specialty.