Climate change will impact the health of all citizens, especially vulnerable older adults. Climate change is causing extreme weather events, such as heat waves, cold spells, storms, floods and droughts, all adversely affecting the health of older adults. These health effects include respiratory, cardiovascular and renal problems. Interest in climate change research is beginning, but more needs to be done. NPs must have knowledge about climate change to manage and prepare patients for the health effects of disasters. Older adults are disproportionately harmed by extreme temperature because they have more chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular and respiratory ailments.  Also, they have diminished capacity to adapt to fluctuations in ambient temperature, especially heatwaves. Many older adults are lower income and unable to evacuate in the event of disasters. This presentation will inform NPs how to evaluate the older adult for hyperthermia and heat stress and how to treat accordingly during extreme temperatures. This presentation will also discuss NPs need to advocate for policy changes locally and nationally to reduce the effects of climate change and the need for NP faculty to include climate change in curriculums, as well as advocate for research on climate change in nursing programs.

This session will review the latest clinical updates in infectious diseases relevant for advanced practice clinicians. Topics will include the most relevant information on the diagnosis, management and prevention of emerging and re-emerging infections such as mpox, COVID, HIV, RSV and more.

LGBTQIA+ care has evolved and each population represented under that acronym requires specialized care. Pediatric patients are identifying as something other than the gender binary. PCPs need to understand how to help pediatric patients begin transitioning but also need to have solid knowledge on prescribing life-saving hormone therapy for this population of patients.

Considering transitioning from the clinic to the classroom? Thinking about an adjunct or part-time faculty role to balance with practice or perhaps a full-time academic position with a faculty practice? This session will give you practical career advice, comparing both clinical and scholastic tracks, giving you a survival guide for academia from an experienced faculty member.

Adrenal crisis is a rare and potentially life-threatening emergency. Session enriches the learner's knowledge of adrenal crisis. Complex pathophysiology, diagnostics, etiologies, treatment modalities, prescribing methodologies, pharmacokinetics and drug-specific information for intravenous and enteral corticosteroids are discussed. Chronic adrenal insufficiency and critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency are analyzed. Select case studies are presented to solidify discussion points.

Building upon the revised diagnostic framework of the DSM-5, this presentation defines somatic symptom disorders, reducing the focus upon lacking medical explanations for physical symptoms in order to make the diagnosis of “medically unexplained symptoms.” With the renewed goal of increasing patient access to appropriate treatment, symptoms that are substantially more severe than expected in association with distress and impairment are emphasized. The presentation explores conditions with no medical explanation and conditions where there is some underlying pathology but an exaggerated response. These concepts are operationalized to enhance the nurse practitioner’s skill in assessing, diagnosing and managing these challenging disorders in a variety of settings.

Cervical cancer prevention has changed significantly in recent years with less frequent screening and with the addition of HPV testing as a stand-alone test along with the previous option for co-testing with both a Pap and HPV test. This session will review the appropriate use of Pap testing, the rationale for HPV testing along with the Pap (co-testing) in women 30 and older and the use of HPV testing as a primary screen (stand-alone test) in women 25 and older by two of the FDA approved HPV tests. There will be a discussion of the new American Cancer Society Guidelines for screening and a review of the new 2019 ASCCP Risk-Based Management Consensus Guidelines for management of abnormal screening and subsequent follow-up with case studies. These guidelines are a shift from results-based to risk-based management relative to the risk of an existing CIN 3 (pre-cancer).

This presentation will review the significance and morbidity of eating disorders (ED). DSM V criteria for the various ED will be reviewed. The COVID-19 effect on ED will be discussed. Signs and symptoms as well as screening tools will be discussed. Various treatment options will be described. The Female Athlete Triad Syndrome will be reviewed as well as return to play protocols.

Resistant hypertension (RN) is commonly encountered in primary care, cardiology and nephrology clinics. It is important to exclude pseudoresistant hypertension or secondary causes of hypertension. With the latest BP goals, RN now approaches 16-20% of adults with treated hypertension. The aging population and increases in obesity further increase the incidence of RN. Clinicians need to understand the identification and management of RH to prevent increased risk for cardiovascular disease. The various forms of hypertension along with the latest hypertension guidelines and complex management of these patients are discussed.

Stress has increased in our lives due to a myriad of reasons. The NP is often overworked and overwhelmed and does not find the time to practice some self-care. This session is intended to understand the pathophysiology of the brain and how stress impacts our lives. Manageable strategies on how to incorporate self-care are discussed. This session will discuss stress, wellness, burnout, the differences between these three terms, how to recognize it and address it in your own lives. There are all different ways that stress manifests itself on the body as well as the mind. Attendees will come away with a better understanding of the pathophysiology of stress and how to recognize stress in themselves and their patients as well as how to effectively manage it in an effort to avoid burnout and job dissatisfaction.

This is a p\PowerPoint presentation that begins with a reminder on endothelial dysfunction and microvascular cardiac disease, then proceeds to specific data concerning women and CV disease, a review of women in the health care system and barriers. The unique aspect of being women: menstrual cycles, pregnancy, and metabolic syndrome with lifestyle are explored. Pre-test and post-test data and non-obstructive CAD is discussed in detailed.

Nurse practitioners practicing in acute and critical care environments frequently encounter adult patients with complex diagnoses that require a rapid and strategic approach to pharmacological prescribing. The purpose of this two-part session is to provide nurse practitioners working in hospital settings with current standards of practice and updates in evidence-based prescribing guidelines. This presentation will focus on common diagnoses and issues in acute care environments and provide practical resources on navigating the challenges associated with evaluating and managing acutely ill patients.

The presentation will use case-based format to explain the use of current FDA approved anti-obesity medications. The future for AOM's will be reviewed.

This presentation will included: 1.) An overview of the diagnosis of primary and secondary hypertension. 2.) Details about the nonpharmacological and pharmacological management of hypertension with associated co-morbidities. A brief review of pathophysiology and pharmacology will be presented.

This 60-minute case-based lecture will provide an overview on the evaluation of patients with abnormal liver chemistries while identifying and describing common causes. Given non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is one of the most common causes of elevated liver enzymes, the diagnosis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and identification of patients at risk for disease progression will be reviewed. The objectives include: Define the difference between liver injury and liver function tests; Describe the characteristics of hepatocellular, cholestatic, and mixed patterns of liver injury tests; Recognize common etiologies of hepatocellular and cholestatic injury and well as the approach to evaluation; Define nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and its two subtypes: isolated steatosis and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH); Explain how to diagnose NAFLD and NASH; Identify patients who are at risk for NASH or advanced fibrosis.

The dizzy patient often presents diagnostic and treatment challenges for the nurse practitioner. The differentials are broad, ranging from bothersome conditions to life threatening ones. Care must be taken to arrive at the best diagnosis in order to solve the problem. Often the plan will include a collaboration of the interprofessional team including the diagnosing clinician, physical therapy, lab, pharmacy, diagnostic cardiology, neurology, psychiatry and otolaryngology. This talk will provide pearls for the NP to seek to understand the patient’s experience, sift through each differential for treating the dizzy patient, and ultimately to employ the best practices for a positive outcome.

The data on incidence, risk factors, epidemiology and treatments of post-covid syndromes, including pain management, is currently dynamic and changing. Educating NPs on the most up to date findings and recommendations is imperative to good patient outcomes. The past two years have seen health care move from 0 to 60 within a matter of weeks to continue to deliver evidenced-based, best practice and safe treatments to our patients. Nowhere has this been truer than in the care of patients with both acute and chronic pain. The challenges of assessment, diagnosis and treatment of pain found new struggles in the era of telehealth. As both clinicians and patients have adapted and found benefits of health care delivery in this new era of telehealth and distant care we have now been faced with the emergence of a set of symptoms, and potentially a new diagnosis, “post-covid pain syndrome”. This lecture will focus on what is known about post-covid pain syndromes, the effects on those with preexisting chronic pain and some of the proposed treatment strategies.

Exanthems or rashes are accountable for more than 12 million office visits in children. From drug rashes to roseola to measles and meningitis, it is crucial for clinicians to recognize the key features that can help distinguish different types of rashes. A systematic approach needs to be followed for accurate assessment, evaluation and management. This presentation will discuss common rashes in children and the etiology and management of those rashes. In pediatric patients, common exanthems include eruptions of varicella, measles, rubella, erythema infectiosum, roseola, hand-foot-and-mouth disease (HFMD), infectious mononucleosis and scarlet fever. One of the major findings in some infectious diseases is the presence of a skin rash. Furthermore, there are some critical infectious diseases which present with prominent skin manifestations. It is crucial to identify these cutaneous manifestations for implementation of effective therapies to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with these critical illnesses.

This talk will review many orthopedic issues that primary care providers may see. Tips will be given for diagnosis and appropriate studies that should be done when indicated.

Pituitary adenomas affect approximately one in five people making them relatively common. The adenomas may be found incidentally or due to symptoms associated with endocrine and/or visual disturbances. Pituitary adenomas vary in size and symptomatic manifestations. These patients require extensive work up to determine whether the adenoma is functioning or non-functioning as well as whether there is associated visual disturbance due to proximity of the optic chiasm to the pituitary gland. This diagnostic work up and management requires a multidisciplinary approach that includes primary care, endocrinology, neurosurgery, ophthalmology and rhinology. Understanding the initial steps of the diagnostic phase will improve efficiency in the work up of these patients, often beginning in the primary care setting. Treatment ranges between observation to surgical resection, and/or focused radiation. Regardless of the treatment algorithm, these patients will require lifelong monitoring.

Congress passed Public Law 115-1821, known as the Maintaining Internal Systems and Strengthening Integrated Outside Network (MISSION) Act, in 2018. The law expands Veteran access to primary and behavioral health care in community settings. Therefore, nurse practitioners and other providers who work within community settings must understand the unique health care needs of veterans. Veterans' demographic characteristics and disease burden is different than the general population. It is projected that within the next ten years there will be an increase in mental health conditions among veterans that served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Suicide is a concern in the veteran population who has a suicide rate that is about 1.9 times the rate of nonveteran adults. Suicide is a multifaceted issue that necessitates unified efforts aimed at prevention across health care settings. The Veterans Health Administration has developed clinical resources centered on veteran suicide prevention that are available to providers within community settings.

Bronchiolitis is one of the most common lower respiratory tract infections in infants and toddlers, yet diagnosis and management of this condition are highly variable. This presentation will cover the spectrum from presentation, diagnostic evaluation and management, with particular emphasis on the integration of pediatric physiology, pathophysiology and practice guidelines. Emphasis will be placed on outpatient and non-emergent presentations, though referral and admission criteria will be reviewed. Immunoprophylaxis indications and administration will also be reviewed.

The presentation will focus on a quality improvement (QI) project applying a procalcitonin-driven algorithm in a pediatric intensive care unit (ICU) to decrease the length of antibiotic treatment for bacterial tracheitis from seven to five days. Antibiotic overuse is prominent in pediatrics and can lead to antimicrobial resistance, increased mortality rate, adverse events and drug toxicity. Tracheitis is a common lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) seen in the pediatric population, with the majority of patients admitted to the ICU. Prompt recognition and treatment of bacterial tracheitis is essential to preventing acute respiratory distress syndrome and sepsis. However, differentiating between a self-limiting respiratory tract infection or a more severe disease remains difficult. Clinicians typically err on the side of prescribing a longer course of antibiotics to avoid potentially life-threatening complications. Standard treatment for tracheitis is generally seven to ten days, with a cost anywhere from $2,319 to $5,840 per patient. Traditional inflammatory markers are non-specific and can lag. Procalcitonin (PCT) has been shown to be a sensitive biomarker for bacterial infections with a 94% negative predictive value. Literature has demonstrated that PCT-guided care resulted in two to three-day reduction in total antibiotic days in LRTIs and decreased length of stay.

Nurse practitioners practicing in acute and critical care environments frequently encounter adult patients with complex diagnoses that require a rapid and strategic approach to pharmacological prescribing. The purpose of this two-part session is to provide nurse practitioners working in hospital settings with current standards of practice and updates in evidence-based prescribing guidelines. This presentation will focus on common diagnoses and issues in acute care environments and provide practical resources on navigating the challenges associated with evaluating and managing acutely ill patients.

The last few years have been tough on those of us in nursing. Whether working in primary care, hospitals or other settings we have had to cope with unprecedented stress relating to care of our patients. Often times nurses neglect themselves and their needs. Dr. Dilks will discuss strategies to provide for taking care of ourselves in order to be present for our patients and families.

The population is aging. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, more than 56 million adults ages 65 and older live in the United States, accounting for about 16.9% of the nation's population. By 2030, when the last of the baby boomer generation ages into older adulthood, it is projected that there will be more than 73.1 million older adults. This session will review the pharmacodynamics, tools and considerations in prescribing for your older patients safely and effectively. 

This presentation will discuss the pathophysiology of the various types of atrial fibrillation and the associated pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments based on current ACC/AHA/HRS/EHRA guidelines. We will also evaluate the complications of A-fib in the presence of acute coronary syndrome and cryptogenic strokes.

This session will provide information regarding the identification of women and men at risk for fracture based on bone densitometry and their 10-year fracture risk using the FRAX calculation. Pharmacologic therapies will be reviewed including patient selection for first line therapies and therapies for patients at extremely high risk and drug risks and benefits. Current controversies will be discussed including long-term use of bisphosphonates, adverse events including osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) and atypical subtrochanteric femur fractures and drug holidays. New concerns about discontinuation of rank ligand inhibitors and the rapid increase in vertebral fractures will be discussed. Treatment of patients at high risk due to therapy such as aromatase inhibitors and androgen deprivation therapy will be presented. Case studies will be used to provide real clinical scenarios.

This presentation will address common questions with the rise in numbers and use if biosimilars in the biologic therapeutic medication arena used for various inflammatory conditions including inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis), rheumatologic conditions (rheumatoid arthritis) and dermatologic conditions (psoriasis). Questions regarding equivalency, safety, efficacy, as well as how to communicate biosimilars to patients will be included.

Motivational interviewing (MI) is a technique used in shared decision-making with patients. It provides a framework for discussing treatment plans and incorporating the patient's feelings, needs and willingness to participate in the treatment. Dr. Dilks will discuss the basic skills and how this technique might be incorporated into your practice.

The population in the United States is aging. One in every five adults is over the age of 65. Individuals are also living longer with chronic illnesses requiring the use of multiple medications. This session will focus on ways in which the older adult is different pharmacokinetically from the younger adults and will provide tips for safe prescribing.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report approximately 6.2 million Americans have heart failure, contributing to over 13% of deaths in 2018, and costing $30.7 billion in 2012. Heart failure remains one of the leading causes of admission and readmissions to the hospital. The 2022 American Heart Association (AHA)/American College of Cardiology (ACC)/Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA) Guideline for the Management of Heart Failure indicates key changes to the identification and diagnosis of heart failure, as well as goal directed medical therapy and management of comorbidities. This presentation aims to update nurse practitioners across the health care spectrum in the prevention and management of heart failure patients.

This session is aimed at the novice or potential NP faculty. The goal of the program is to help NP clinicians and teachefs examine the unique needs of the NP and APRN learner, with a focus on the application of sound learning principles and theory.

PCOS impacts women's health over a life-time. In the reproductive years the focus is often on menstrual management and fertility care. The content of this lecture will focus on the impact of PCOS on the health and wellness of women across the life-span with emphasis on cardiovascular and metabolic health as well as cancer prevention.

This presentation will provide an overview of migraine diagnosis and treatment.

Vaccines are one of the best preventive measures for reducing vaccine-preventable diseases and cancers. This session will provide the NP with an understanding of how vaccines provide protection. In addition, we will discuss the most current vaccine recommendations across the lifespan, prevention of missed opportunities and increasing the vaccine rates in your practice, and current vaccines that are under development.

The earth’s climate has warmed over the past few decades as a result of greenhouse gas emissions from human activities. A major public health threat, climate impacts present the most daunting justice issues of our time, disproportionately impacting vulnerable populations who have likely contributed the least to global carbon emissions--primarily communities of color in the United States and persons living in low and middle-income countries in the global south. Direct trauma from extreme weather events, heat-related illnesses, exacerbations of chronic disease (predominantly cardiac and respiratory illnesses) as well as mental health impacts are a few of the most pressing health implications that nurses must be prepared to address in their practices. However, most schools of nursing and medicine do not include information about health impacts of climate change in their curricula. Targeted toward primary care providers, this presentation will share key strategies for nurses to assess individuals and communities risk for climate-related health impacts and offer strategies to optimize health and target advocacy to maximize health spans in the face of impending climate change.

Breast, lung, and other cancers are widely discussed in media and in the classroom. Many times, the female reproductive cancers are only referred to in whispers. In this presentation, we will discuss the presentation of ovarian and uterine cancer, the options, and prognosis. We will address how to counsel the patient about the disease state the treatment options and how effective these options are on the cancer.

In 2018, MinuteClinic® began an academic-practice partnership to implement the Age-Friendly Health Systems 4Ms framework into clinical practice in over 1100 clinics in 36 states and D.C. Training over 3,300 NPs in the evidence-based framework was the first step in the implementation process to reliably assess and act-on “What Matters, Medication, Mentation and Mobility” for patients 65 and older in the context of eligible visits. The partnership used Implementation science and quality improvement methods to strategically embed the 4Ms in clinical practice and in the EHR and facilitated reporting to support data-driven steps to increase the uptake of the 4Ms. Transformational leadership was critical to influence the NPs in identifying the ideal approach to care for older adults, to inspire and motivate the use of the 4Ms, to stimulate intellectual understanding of the principles of the 4Ms and to approach the project with consideration of the individual provider and patient.

This dynamic session will review the latest information and treatment about thyroid cancer and thyroid nodules. We will review the most recent guidelines and literature to manage and treat patients with thyroid cancer and thyroid nodules. Each topic will present interesting case studies to apply the evidence and management of this patient population. Don't miss the session everyone will be attending!

Disorders of the penis are often not addressed during primary care visits, leading many to suffer in silence. The audience will be taken on a fun and informative journey through the “forest” of penis disorders and a male genitourinary pharmacology update, equipping APRNs with heightened and expanded knowledge to empower patients with a penis to live their best life.

Nearly two million Americans have Type 1 diabetes (T1D) and approximately 64,000 new cases are diagnosed annually. Treatment of T1D can be challenging. This lecture will discuss screening, diagnosis, and the current treatments for T1D including Stage 2 T1D, diabetes medications and technology.

Precepting for nurse practitioner students is facing nationwide challenges. Fewer and fewer nurse practitioners are volunteering for the opportunity to mentor students. Multiple barriers have been uncovered, and understanding these barriers to precepting is important. These barriers may include time, space, patient satisfaction, productivity and more. Although not all barriers can be eliminated, some barriers can be mitigated with creative precepting ideas. Various models have been implemented and will be discussed during this presentation. One model working well for preceptors is the dyad model. Implementation of the dyad model at Virginia Commonwealth University offers  promise. During this presentation, the dyad model will be introduced as a valuable option for precepting dilemmas.

We only have so many tools in our pain pharmacology tool-box. Often, developing a patient care regimen can be challenging and requires not only creativity but extensive patient education. This brings up the question, do we really remember how each drug works, what the pros and cons of each drug are and what the appropriate expectations for therapy are? Once we are confident in this, how do we explain it to the patients in a way that will support their decision-making and success? This presentation is a deep dive into the non-opioid medications available for pain management and practical tips for patient conversations.

This will discuss therapeutic management of allergic disorders in adults. These include asthma with the new updated GINA guidelines, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis. 

Even though COPD is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, there is a need to improve the use of diagnostic tools and treatment plans to improve the lives of patients with COPD. Managing complex cases in the fast primary care setting can be challenging. Hear updates on the latest treatment options, based on 2023 GOLD COPD guidelines. Case studies will be utilized to differentiate between COPD and asthma COPD overlap (ACO) and other chronic lung conditions. Pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic individualized treatment plans will be presented.

Urban populations demonstrate some of the world's most prominent health disparities and are key targets for health disparities research. The creation of solutions to improve health and address health disparities in these complex, concentrated, and diverse urban environments is essential. People living in the same ZIP code can have a difference in life expectancy of more than 20 years due to factors such as economic stability, education preparation, employability, race and health care insurance access. Poor health outcomes for urban underserved patients related to these health disparities are well documented. HRSA and SAMHSA, and other organizations have spent billions of dollars supporting clinical practicum internships and incentivized employment opportunities across all health specialties with the hope of luring new providers into underserved areas to help improve poor health outcomes. Unfortunately, there exist fundamental gaps in comprehension and application of practical knowledge when preparing the student to actively engage urban patients. Urban providers need to recognize how social determinants of health, policy, perceptions, disparities and lack of resources impact health outcomes of underserved populations. In acknowledging the lived experience of urban patients and how disparities impact their daily lives, we can begin to build more effective patient-provider relationships.

This presentation will cover topics related to the transgender population and their health care. Topics covered will include U.S. demographics, terminology, health disparities, barriers to health care and providing affirmative and inclusive clinical environments for transgender people. Disparities of care in trans youth and older adults will also be examined. Various health risks that the transgender population face will be discussed in detail, along with screening guidelines and recommendations. The concepts of gender identity and the process of transition and affirmation will be explored. An overview of the medical and surgical management of the transgender patient and the guidelines for these therapies will also be examined. A list of local, state and national resources will be provided for the transgender population as well as for the providers.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is the number one clinical diagnosis in gastroenterology and remains the seventh most common diagnosis in primary care. The underlying pathophysiology of IBS is complex and multifactorial. As providers, it is imperative to understand the complex nature of this very common condition. This session will provide tools to make an accurate diagnosis of IBS and will  discuss both pharmacological and non-pharmacological management plans for the spectrum of symptoms that coincide with IBS.

NPs will see a significant increase in the number of geriatric patients as all baby boomers turn 65 years old over this current decade. The geriatric population will exceed younger populations for the first time in America. This surge of older people requires preparation of NPs in all specialties to assess the older population based on comorbidity guidelines, life goals and health status. The enormous high-level impact on health care organizations because of this population growth can be reduced if APRNs are aware of leading causes of hospitalizations and the importance of early interventions to reduce hospitalizations. This presentation will provide an explanation to coordinate and improve management and monitoring of the older population to reduce risk of hospitalizations and adverse events for geriatric patients. Goals for older Americans are to maintain functional abilities and promote life goals based on advance directive discussions. Suggestions addressing health care issues will be provided.

Since the rapid emergence of the novel coronavirus in December 2019 and the subsequent development of a global pandemic, clinicians around the world have struggled to understand and respond effectively in health care systems already strained before this latest viral outbreak. Nurse practitioners are ideally situated as a trusted source of health information for children. This presentation summarizes the latest evidence on holistic health impacts of COVID-19 on children and their families.

Many providers aren't sure about the biologic impact on libido, sexual response and risk of pain when recommending or prescribing contraceptive options to women. This evidence-based presentation will provide the plausible biologic influences of hormones as well as population-based data on outcomes.

This presentation provides those thinking about precepting--or with minimal precepting experience--with information about how to precept. Information presented will include adult learning concepts, an overview of current nurse practitioner clinical coursework and how it relates to precepted clinical experiences, and ways to develop clinical reasoning in an NP student. Practical aspects of precepting, like finding a school for which to precept, negotiating with your practice, and strategies for maintaining NP productivity while precepting will also be discussed. Finally, goal setting, communication, feedback and evaluation of students will be examined.

CMS has implemented changes to reduce the administrative burden for providers in caring for patients. The overhaul of the 1997 CMS guidelines aids in streamlining clinical documentation requirements. This course will focus on what practitioners need to know regarding key changes for documenting outpatient encounters as well as changes to the current reimbursement structure for evaluation and management codes. This course will be a more advanced course, identifying key changes and the implications for reimbursement and clinical practice, and will not include basic documentation and coding instruction. Most of the key changes impact outpatient encounters, and the primary focus of this course will be the changes across primary care and select key specialty areas, including recent changes for telehealth reimbursement.

Keeping up with new medications, particularly given the recent trend towards direct-to-consumer advertising, is one of the true challenges of primary care. Dr. Wright will focus on the top new, widely used medications, including their appropriate uses, adverse effects and drug interactions.

Nurse practitioners often play a major role in the management of patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) across the lifespan and in various settings. Based on the most recent data in the 2014 National Diabetes Statistics report ~ 30.5 million, or 10.5%, of Americans were living with T2DM (ADA, 2014). Diabetes has become financially burdensome, with the American Diabetes Association estimating associated cost to be $245 billion in 2012, along with $69 billion of reduced productivity (ADA, 2013). The management of T2DM requires a battery of resources including behavior modification strategies, medical nutrition therapy, and pharmaceutical therapies. Diabetes is prevalent and costly. Nurse practitioners and their patients face many challenges together in the management of diabetes. For diabetes to be managed successfully, it is imperative to incorporate an individualized patient-centric approach that requires patients to adopt numerous diabetes self-management strategies to help them reach their glycemic goals. Utilizing the chronic care model, nurse practitioners partner with their patients to develop a tailored management plan. This session will focus on management of the Type 2 diabetic patient with an emphasis on pharmacological management for patients with cardiometabolic needs. After a review of the multiple complex pathophysiological abnormalities of T2DM, the various medication options will be explored with regard to action and side effects, and then applied to cases with cardiometabolic comorbidities. The value of this presentation will be to explore the “sea of options” and to determine the best therapeutic approach for individual patients. The goal of this presentation is to advance T2DM therapy within the context of cardiometabolic burden with confidence since getting to goal can be difficult.

This presentation will review common neuropsychiatric symptoms associated with dementia. The off-label use of psychotropics to manage these symptoms is historically widespread. This is despite evidence showing limited benefits and high mortality risk. Pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic approaches to dementia-related neuropsychiatric symptoms will be explored through a case study analysis.

Racial and ethnic disparities among pediatric eczema and asthma are well documented. These disparities have persisted and exacerbate, despite advances in treatment options. Eczema and asthma are common, chronic pediatric conditions that persist into adulthood. Unfortunately, these conditions disproportionately impact Black, Hispanic and Indigenous populations. It is now recognized that these disparities exist due to the intersection of social, structural and behavioral determinants of health, rather than biological and genetic factors alone. Evidence demonstrates that, like other disparate conditions, socio-environmental, economic and structural inequities contribute to the prevalence of eczema and asthma. Major health care, social and structural reform are necessary to eliminate these disparities. However, nurse practitioners have a unique opportunity to help mitigate these disparities by providing culturally appropriate care that focuses on improving health literacy, providing effective and culturally informed communication and education, and incorporating patients in their care through shared decision-making.

When your midlife patients seek care for their exhaustion, irritability and loss of vitality, you may chalk it up to a thyroid disorder or sleep hygiene. However, at midlife, hormonal changes impact sleep cycles and lead to many downstream effects on mood, memory, relationships and employment. In this presentation, you'll learn how to recognize, evaluate and treat sleep disruption at midlife.

Professional opportunities often arise from relationships and networks established through professional organizations and/or workgroups. NPs need to be prepared to respond promptly. Delays in responding can result in missed opportunities. Developing a CV that is, "slick " and frequently updated will be a professional asset. This presentation will discuss the elements needed to construct a versatile, non-academic "slick CV" that is visually appealing, and invites the reader to learn about the person seeking the opportunity for which the CV was submitted.

Information specific to safe opioid prescribing based on national standards, including current updated data on overdose deaths, and the impact of mitigation strategies, pain and opioid use assessments, establishing a plan of care, maintenance of care, pain pathophysiology and drug pharmacology are presented.  This portion will cover Overview of pain management, pharmacological treatment options, breaking down the CDC guidelines, pain and addition, transition pain service and neuromodulation.  This is a two-part session.  You must also take session 23.4.108 in order to receive credit. 

The street drug world is forever changing, and it is difficult to keep up. This talk will provide up-to-date information on new trends in street drugs, including the opioid crisis, new psychoactive substances, legal highs and viral trends. Throughout the presentation, we will identify street names, route, effects, side effects, overdose treatments and tips on how to diagnose and treat drug use.

Over 1 million breast biopsies are done each year in the U.S. Results range from benign fibroglandular tissue to invasive cancer. Over 70% of breast biopsies do not reveal breast cancer. However, about 10% of benign lesions do have substantial risk for future breast cancer and therefore require follow up, often by NPs. Attendees will review the variety of breast biopsy results and identify management of proliferative breast disorders with and without atypia.

There is something that scares us when we hear "cirrhosis". This talk will help the learner to become more confident when treating patients with cirrhosis. We will review the most common complications of cirrhosis and understand when to refer for specialty care.

Information specific to safe opioid prescribing based on national standards, including current updated data on overdose deaths, and the impact of mitigation strategies, pain and opioid use assessments, establishing a plan of care, maintenance of care, pain pathophysiology and drug pharmacology are presented. This is a two-part session. You must also take the first session, 23.4.086, in order to receive credit.

Does a negative exercise stress test mean the patient doesn't have coronary artery disease? What does nuclear imaging add? Should I just get a coronary CTA? What about a calcium score? Learn how to think about diagnostic tests like an expert by asking the right question.

Issues related to inequality and acceptance of LGBTQ+ persons are critical to DEI initiatives. Proper use of chosen pronouns and preferred names is a good first step toward reaching equality and acceptance. This presentation will focus on issues surrounding chosen pronouns and preferred name. Lastly, issues affecting some states will be highlighted.

Within the framework of this presentation, participants will learn to identify vulnerable populations. The utilization of a gap analysis to further define the needs of a community will be presented. The integrated model of care will be examined as a means of increasing patient access to care in a variety of health care settings. Upon completion of this session, participants will be able to apply key concepts within their communities. Participants will engage in a group discussion of how key concepts of the workshop may be applied within their communities.

Systemic lupus erythematosus is a debilitating multi-organ system autoimmune disease that results in significant morbidity and mortality. It affects primarily black females—three to four times more than white females. The diagnosis is often elusive, resulting in delayed diagnosis and poor patient outcomes. Early diagnosis is imperative towards improved patient outcomes.

The COVID-19 pandemic sparked an explosion of telehealth usage among providers; however, many were catapulted into using the modality without any education or training. This lack of knowledge created frustration and dissatisfaction for providers and patients. To improve upon provider comfort and ability to deliver high-quality care, providers require education and training on how to properly perform a telehealth visit, with or without peripherals (e.g., electronic stethoscope, otoscope, lenses). The purpose of this presentation is to provide advanced practice registered nurses with the necessary knowledge and skill set to successfully execute a synchronous telehealth encounter. The presentation will also address asynchronous telehealth and mobile health care delivery modalities.

This presentation describes a multi-modal telehealth educational program for NP students with four focus areas: didactic education, experiential simulations, clinical telehealth experiences, and telehealth projects.

According to data from the CDC, at least half of all Americans will experience a mental health problem in their lifetime. At any given time 1 in 5 people are experiencing symptoms that lead to a psychiatric diagnosis. With recent world events and the global pandemic these numbers have risen. Mental health complaints are often the chief complaint in primary care offices. This evidence-based presentation will provide an update on medications used to treat common mental health conditions, especially as it relates to those in a primary care role, particularly family and adult/gerontological nurse practitioners. The latest research and evidence-based prescribing guidelines related to psychopharmacology and the use of these medications in the primary care setting will be examined. The use of antidepressants, mood stabilizers and anti-psychotics will be explored and discussed. Risk/benefit prescribing as well as the appropriate monitoring of patients on these agents will also be examined and discussed.

Since 2014, over 300,000 unaccompanied immigrant youth and over 120,000 family units with young children have come to the U.S. from the Northern Triangle of Central America (Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala). Of the youth from Guatemala, up to 50% speak a Mayan language at home. Years of extreme poverty, violence and political repression directed at rural and indigenous populations in Guatemala, and parts of Honduras have fragmented communities and reinforced practices of silence with regard to traumatic experiences. Silences are compounded by language barriers, lack of access to interpreters and differences in the way emotions are defined and described in indigenous languages, compared with English or Spanish. The workshop will discuss findings from years of practice and research with Spanish- and Mam-speaking immigrants, interpreters and other stakeholders involved in their care, and practical, culturally responsive approaches that advanced practice nurses can use to teach coping skills and promote healing with newcomers.

Hypertension, Type 2 diabetes mellitus and elevated cholesterol have always been common chronic diseases in adults. These very same conditions are now being diagnosed at alarmingly high rates in children as a result of the proliferation of obesity and unhealthy diets. While lifestyle changes are the first line of treatment for children, there are medications available when lifestyle changes alone are not effective. While some adult medications used in these conditions can be used for children, the dose is different, and many adult medications cannot be used at all. Successful treatment is necessary to prevent the complication of these formerly adults-only chronic diseases in children. This presentation will discuss all current evidence-based screening and treatments for these conditions in children using a case study format.

Considered exotic by some, intimidating to many and often misunderstood by acute and primary care providers, adrenal disorders are common, ubiquitous findings that cause and exacerbate physiological upheaval. This session will provide attendees with endocrinology tips to help better identify, diagnose and treat adrenal insufficiency, Cushing’s syndrome, adrenal incidentaloma, and adrenal fatigue.

Anti-obesity medications can be expensive and may not be covered by insurance. This presentation will review the medications currently approved by the FDA and the literature on the use of off-label for the treatment of pre-obesity and obesity.

Immunizations are prescribed by pediatric providers on a daily basis. Providers are tasked with keeping up to date on current immunization recommendations and evidence to provide care and educating parents about vaccines. This presentation will address current evidence regarding vaccine safety and efficacy in children and adolescents, including current guidelines for immunization practices. Tools for overcoming vaccine resistance will be presented, as well as resources providers can use in their practice.

People living with HIV (PLWH) and taking antiretroviral therapy (ART) may present to primary care providers for treatment of common conditions. This presentation will discuss important pharmacologic considerations when treating common primary care conditions in PLWH. The presenters will provide an overview of ART and discuss the potential for drug interactions involving ART and other prescribed drugs, over-the-counter products, herbal therapies and supplements. Potential clinical significance and adverse outcomes associated with these interactions will also be discussed. Evidence-based clinical resources to help NPs make safer prescribing decisions will be shared, as well as tips for use.

Constipation is one of the most common chronic disorders of childhood. It affects up to 30% of children worldwide. Functional (idiopathic) constipation is a common etiology of chronic constipation. Stool withholding can lead to involuntary stool soiling, which is often mistaken for diarrhea or bad behavior. The Rome criteria are often used for the diagnosis of functional constipation of children. In order to develop an appropriate plan of care, the clinician must understand the anatomy and physiology of the constipation and psychosocial aspects of care, and rule out other potential causes of the constipation. Disimpaction, maintenance and education are the mainstays of improving the condition and normalizing patterns of defecation.

This presentation will discuss some of the most commonly prescribed drugs in primary care. This session will highlight important drug considerations that are valuable to the busy clinician, such as FDA-approved indications, safety considerations, and evidence-based prescribing pearls.

Dementia patients’ family members often provide their care at home throughout the course of illness, and in 2015 accounted for approximately 17.9 billion hours of unpaid care (Joling et al., 2015). This provision of care costs families in terms of dollars as well as physical and mental health problems. However, most NPs (especially family NPs) receive minimal content regarding patient- and family-centered dementia management in their primary NP education. This presentation is designed for the expert primary care NPs who are often the first to recognize and address early dementia symptoms and cognitive changes among this population. NPs must be informed of how dementia, depression and delirium symptoms overlap, yet differentiate their differences for accurate diagnosing and management (Chimbanga, 2018).

This talk will focus on managing hypertension (HTN) in older adults. Emphasis will be on the latest guidelines relevant to diagnosing and managing HTN in older adults. Challenges of comorbidities, frailty and polypharmacy will be discussed.

This session explores KDIGO guidelines in detail to enrich the learner's knowledge of this disease process and treatment. Complex pathophysiology, advanced diagnosis, etiologies, treatment modalities and long-term term considerations for patients with acute kidney injury are discussed. Safe-prescribing practices regarding certain nephrotoxic pharmacological agents and prevention and management of contrast induced nephropathy are discussed. Case studies are discussed to solidify discussion points.

An aggressive adolescent can be difficult for any health care provider to navigate. However, it is imperative that primary care providers recognize that the display of aggressive behavior may be a precursor to a larger problem and can easily go unnoticed. Aggressive behaviors are highly prevalent in depressed adolescents, with similar types and levels evident in males and females. This presentation will address needed assessment skills when caring for the adolescent with aggression and/or depression, current diagnostic criteria by DSM-V, recommendations for treatment and future care needed for these adolescent patients.

Adverse Childhood childhood Events events (ACE) are linked to a disruption in neurodevelopment impacting social, emotional, and cognitive function and impacting an individual’s physical and emotional health throughout their life. Trauma Trauma-iInformed Care care (TIC) provides a set of principles to guide medical care and improve outcomes in the top leading causes of death associated with ACEs, including respiratory and heart disease, cancer, and suicide. With an increasing presence of NPs in primary care, NPs have the potential to incorporate screening for ACEs and implement TIC practices to avoid triggering trauma reactions in healthcarehealth care settings and improve health outcomes.

The FDA has averaged about 43 novel drug approvals per year for the past 10 years. In 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved 34 novel drugs and 12 new biological agents. Many of these new drugs are indicated for use in children. Additionally, more than 40 drugs including biologics, immunomodulators and HIV antivirals have been relabeled to be safe and effective in children and adolescents. This presentation will review newly approved or relabeled drugs for use in children and adolescents, and recent advances in pediatric pharmacology and prescribing knowledge. Issues that impact prescribing, such as Drug Safety or MedWatch alerts, and drug shortages, will be discussed. New and in-progress studies from the Pediatric Trials Network will be reviewed. Attendees will be able to incorporate information from this session immediately into their practice.

In today's multigenerational workforce, each generation brings unique strengths. Engaging multiple generations and integrating their strengths can improve workplace harmony and productivity. whereas generational divide leads to decreased staff morale, high turnover, and hiring challenges resulting in poor patient and staff satisfaction. As healthcarehealth care leaders, nurse practitioners need the knowledge and skills to work efficiently in a multigenerational workforce. This presentation will discuss the characteristics of different generations and practical tips for managing generational differences and leveraging generational strengths to improve workplace productivity.

This presentation will be in an interactive lecture format discussing the use of telehealth, the legal implications and regulations. HIPAA and privacy laws will be reviewed, as well as legislation affecting telehealth within one's own state and across state lines and ethics of care with patients using a virtual format. Examples of patient situations will be utilized to provide real life situations.

We all harbor viruses and virtually everyone has recovered from a viral infection. Despite effective vaccines and treatments for other viral diseases (measles, hepatitis, HIV, rhinoviruses, influenza, polio, sepsis, TB and viral pneumonia), the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic has provided a ringside seat to observe the battle between scientists, health care and public health professionals and a rapidly evolving, often deadly infectious disease. This talk will begin by providing an overview of viruses, then shift focuses to examine the many ways in which genomics has been involved in managing COVID; from identification of the viral genome in early 2020, to viral mutations, development of testing kits and vaccines, and finally to sharing what is currently understood about genetic associations with increased risk for severe illness, recurrent infection and prolonged symptoms (aka “long COVID”). This program will include how genomics has helped to manage SARS-CoV, the immune response to infection, how genomics is used to track community spread and viral mutations, genetics and human responses to viral infections (infuenza, COVID, HIV, Ebola and mpox), as well as prevention strategies.

Oncologic emergencies can present in a wide variety of acute care settings. These emergencies can be caused by the cancer itself, a paraneoplastic syndrome or treatment of cancer. This session explores the etiologies and treatment of metabolic and structural oncological emergent medical conditions. Learners will apply this information to the complex oncology patient with comorbid conditions across the spectrum of acute care. Discussions include a wide variety of topics that encompass multiple body systems including neurological, metabolic, cardiovascular, hematological, pulmonary and gastrointestinal. This presentation outlines evidence-based practice recommendations to maximize the quality of care.

Workplace violence is rampant in health care environments, with front-line caregivers suffering the greatest number of incidents. These incidents may involve patients, family, co-workers, or even random assailants. Health care organizations have a duty to implement systems, policies and procedures to provide primary, secondary and tertiary prevention of workplace violence. National organizations such as the American Nurses Association have led awareness campaigns and lobbied for regulatory/statutory guidelines for health care organizations with some success. We will summarize the current regulatory workplace violence standards and will also provide the participant with de-escalation strategies which help prevent or contain violent incidents in the workplace.

Prescribing antibiotics happens daily in pediatric practice. This presentation will provide valuable updated information about prescribing antibiotics for children and adolescents. Antibiotic resistance will be discussed, including local and national resistance patterns and the use of antibiograms to guide prescribing. Current prescribing guidelines for common pediatric infections will be reviewed. Updated guidelines for pediatric community-acquired pneumonia in infants and children in development by the Infectious Disease Society of America will be presented, as well as potential updated pediatric otitis media and sinusitis guidelines. Current literature regarding shorted course of antibiotics for common pediatric infectious diseases will be discussed. Antibiotic stewardship principles that can be applied to practice will be explored, including the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Safety Program 4 moments of antibiotic decision-making.

This talk focuses on current issues facing nurse practitioners in practice, legislation and education. Possible topics include the state of affairs following (1) the Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Center (2022), (2) the impact of nurse RaDonda Vaught's conviction in Kentucky, (3) NP telehealth practice across the state lines, (4) the debate over the APRN Compact and its implications for current practice, use of social media, and (5) unsafe students and the supervising NP and faculty.