Join us as we recognize the winners of The Nurse Practitioner Journal Awards, presented by Jamesetta A. Newland, PhD, RN, FNP-BC, FAANP, DPNAP, FAAN, Editor-in-Chief, The Nurse Practitioner Journal!

• Peer Reviewer of the Year
• Author of the Year

After more than a decade, there is renewed interest in metabolic syndrome--a clustering of abnormalities that includes obesity, hyperglycemia, high blood pressure, and atherogenic dyslipidemia. This session addresses emerging insights regarding risk, identification, and biomarkers, creative new management strategies, and the surprising cause of this deadly metabolic disruption that now afflicts 1 in 3 Americans.

CE credit: 1.5; Rx credit: 1.5
Learning Objectives:

• List signs and symptoms of Metabolic Syndrome
• Discuss the underlying pathophysiology of metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance
• Develop strategies to mitigate the sequela of metabolic syndrome

This session provides information regarding the screening and treatment of adults at risk for fracture based on bone densitometry and their 10-year fracture risk using the FRAX calculation. Pharmacologic therapies will be reviewed, including risks and benefits.
CE credit: 1.5; Rx credit: 1.5
Learning Objectives:

• Discuss the diagnosis of osteoporosis, low bone mass and high risk for fracture by the FRAX calculation
• Discuss current pharmacologic options for fracture prevention
• Discuss appropriate clinical management with case studies

This case-based session covers the diagnosis of gap and non-gap metabolic acidosis, metabolic alkalosis, and acute and chronic respiratory acidosis and alkalosis. We’ll also discuss an approach to diagnosing the primary disturbance, limits of compensation, and the delta gap. CE Credit: 1.5
Learning Objectives:

• Provide an approach to determine complex acid-base disorders
• Discuss the approach to determine primary disturbances, compensation, Anion gap and Delta gap

In this session, you’ll learn about the best evidence on some of the most commonly used vitamin, mineral, and herbal supplements. Find out which products you should warn your patients to avoid, and update your knowledge on the latest information on drug-supplement interactions. CE credit: 1.5; Rx credit: 1.5
Learning Objectives:

• Recognize indications and therapeutic actions of commonly used herb, mineral, and vitamin therapies.
• Identify potential problems with the use of commonly prescribed herbal, mineral, and vitamin therapies.

As clinicians, it’s common to see patients on self-imposed gluten-free diets in search of a cure for various symptoms.This session will review the appropriate workup for celiac disease as well as its many manifestations. We’ll also discuss non-celiac gluten sensitivity as well as IBS and how to differentiate them. CE Credit: 1.5
Learning Objectives:

• Describe the varied clinical manifestations of Celiac Disease (Sprue)
• Define the workup of Celiac Disease especially when a patient is already on a self imposed gluten free diet
• Recognize the entity of Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivity

Whether you’re a novice or a seasoned practitioner, neurologic disorders are often difficult to spot. Learn how to do a quick yet thorough neurologic exam and how to use that exam to guide your diagnostic imaging and referrals.

CE credit: 1.5; Rx credit: 0

Learning Objectives:

• Understand components of neurological assessment.
• Differentiate what diagnostic imaging and laboratory work up is indicated by disorder.
• Differentiate what diagnostic imaging and laboratory work up is indicated by disorder.

In this informative session, you’ll learn about the latest updates to many practice guidelines for clinical situations we encounter commonly. Highlights include updates on proton pump inhibitor use and discontinuation, aspirin’s role in the primary prevention of cardiovascular events, target organ disease-specific recommendations for hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus, management of COPD and asthma
exacerbation, and updated recommendations on the treatment of skin and soft tissue infections. CE Credit: 1.5

Learning Objectives:

• Describe select updated clinical guidelines
• Apply the recommendations of select updated clinical guidelines

Obesity has reached epidemic proportions. Currently, approximately one-third of the entire US population is considered obese. Learn about the various nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic treatment options available for individuals with or at risk for obesity. CE Credit 1.5; Rx Credit 1.5
Learning Objectives:

• Discuss the health risks associated with obesity
• Identify the various behavioral modalities utilized to assist with weight loss
• Discuss pharmacologic strategies for weight stabilization or loss in the overweight or obese individual

Distinguishing the various types of dementia is often difficult. This session provides tools to appropriately screen patients experiencing dementia as well as a discussion of the most effective interventions to improve the care you provide.CE Credit: 1.5; Rx Credit: 0.5
Learning Objectives:

• Identify the signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias
• List appropriate diagnostic tests to achieve accurate diagnosis
• Devise interventions that are effective and promote positive communication between staff, family & the older adult

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

CE credit: 1.5; Rx credit: 1.5
Learning Objectives:

• Identify 10–20 new medications.
• Discuss the use, side effects, drug-drug interactions, and benefits of each of the medications.
• Discuss updates related to labeling, indications, risks associated with various medications.

One of the most difficult clinical presentations in healthcare is the management of compulsive disorders that include the skin because many patients are not willing to pursue psychiatric referrals. Manifestations include delusions of parasitosis, prurigo nodularis, notalgia paresthetica, trichotillomania, skin anxiety disorders worsened by established diseases, urticaria, and others. This session presents a general review followed by a discussion of the controversies regarding Morgellons disease. CE Credit: 1.5; Rx Credit: 1.0
Learning Objectives:

• Become familiar with the more common psychodermatological conditions
• Identify clinical characteristics and treatment paradigms for psychodermatological conditions

This session explores a diagnostic approach to managing patients with proteinuria and hematuria. How and when to order the correct tests will be discussed, along with seeking appropriate consultation. CE Credit: 1.5; Rx Credit 1.0
Learning Objectives:

• Identify glomerular syndrome
• Identify appropriate labs, serology
• Describe supportive therapy first, before immunosuppression

Join me on an adventurous and immersive journey through the Old West as we venture into Knocking Out Stroke with Limited Resources! Audience members are promised a riveting, immersive and fun learning experience which focuses on evidence based practice principles related to: the Impact of Stroke; Being "the Spark" to encourage and implement positive change in organizations, state and national stroke programs; Keys to Assembling an Effective Stroke Team; Synthesizing the Latest Advancements in Stroke Care and "Stoking the Big Mo" by Recognizing Stroke Heroes. All of this will be accomplished while walking through real-world stroke scenarios and an interactive gaming experience to keep audience members awake and engaged to leave them inspired and fired-up to Knock Out Stroke!
Learning Objectives:

• Identify the mortality and morbidity impact of stroke
• Conceptualized the important of being “the spark” to inspire positive change within organizations, state and national healthcare organizations.
• Synthesize the keys to assembling an effective stroke team.

This session reviews the diagnosis and treatment of community-acquired pneumonia in the outpatient setting. Pneumococcal vaccination recommendations for the prevention of pneumonia will be discussed. CE Credit 1.5; Rx Credit 1.5

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize signs and symptoms of pneumonia
• Develop a safe, evidence-based treatment plan for patients with CAP
• Consider pneumonia prevention strategies including optimizing vaccination timing in patients at risk for CAP

This session utilizes an interactive case study-based approach to apply knowledge of the diagnosis and management of sodium disturbances to actual patient cases.The knowledge gained will help clinicians make sound, evidence-based evaluation and treatment decisions, which contribute to high-quality patient care. CE Credit: 1.5; Rx Credit 1.5
Learning Objectives:

• Identify the pathophysiology for types of sodium disorders
• Analyze patient history, presentation, laboratory results, and primary diagnosis to determine the type of sodium disorders
• Analyze the evidence-based guidelines to choose the most appropriate treatment for sodium disorders

Attendees will receive specialist tips on the initial workup and intervention of commonly referred metabolic complaints and conditions (e.g., subclinical hypothyroidism, hypercalcemia, adrenal incidentaloma, hirsutism, etc.) that may cause needless (or delayed) endocrinology consultations. It promises to help you learn when and how to treat and when to punt!

CE credit: 1.5; Rx credit: 1.5
Learning Objectives:

• Identify appropriate patients with selected endocrinopathies and metabolic disorders to refer to endocrinology.
• Discuss assessment and diagnostic evaluation priorities and initial interventions for common endocrine disorders such as subclinical hypothyroidism, galactorrhea, hypercalcemia, and adrenal incidentaloma.
• Discuss assessment & diagnostic evaluation priorities and initial interventions for common metabolic complaints such as fatigue and hirsutism.

In the US, 50% of geriatric adults age 85 and over will be diagnosed with some sort of dementia. Challenges associated with this diagnosis include wandering, aggression, depression, anxiety, anorexia, and sexual behaviors, and treatment often falls outside of FDA guidelines. In this session, you’ll learn innovative and practical approaches to managing the disruptive behaviors frequently associated with aging and dementia through evidence-based treatment options that maintain your patient’s dignity within a climate of respect and empathy.

CE credit: 1.5; Rx credit: 0.5
Learning Objectives:

• Review strategies to diminish the occurrence of behavioral problems in individuals with dementia.
• Discuss behavioral and environmental techniques to diminish challenging behavioral problems.
• Identify how cognitive impairment in older individuals is affected by environment, caregiver schedules, and responses to the behaviors.

With the opioid crisis continuing to rage, the number of opioid related deaths rising, insurance companies refusing to pay for quantities of opioids, pharmacists refusing to dispense quantities of opioids, and peer-to-peer watch dogging, what can a clinician do to help manage their patient’s pain? This lecture will focus on the use of rational polypharmacy effective for the management of pain. The consideration for and initiation of medication assisted therapy (MAT) will also be briefly discussed. CE Credt: 1.5; Rx Credit: 1.5
Learning Objectives:

• Explore clinical indications, contraindications & dosing for common non-opioid analgesics
• Describe where analgesics act in the pain pathway
• Evaluate the use of medication assisted therapy (MAT) in pain management

Utilizing real patient case studies and endocrinology expertise, this important session provides clarity to the topic with useful tips on how to individualize and effectively prescribe current diabetes medications. CE Credit 1.5; Rx Credit 1.5
Learning Objectives:

• List the cardiovascular impact of current diabetes medications
• Describe appropriate use of the newest oral and injectable non-insulin anti-hyperglycemic agents relation to new ADA guidelines
• Identify at least three safe & effective ways how to ensure selected new and old diabetes medications can be used together

When children and their caregivers present for a pediatric sick visit, NPs must provide a balance between helping the child feel better and offering the safest, most effective care based on the evidence. You’ll learn about options for managing cough, cold, fever, and GI upset as well as when to immunize, or not, during an episodic illness. CE Credit: 1.5; Rx Credit: 1.5
Learning Objectives:

• Describe the most commonly reported and problematic symptoms in children with acute, episodic illnesses
• Identify evidence-based treatment for children with the above-mentioned symptoms
• Discuss when immunizations can be safely used during common acute, episodic illness in children

Focusing on common geriatric syndromes commonly encountered in primary care, this session discusses presentation and treatment interventions with an emphasis for the non-gerontological NP. CE Credit: 1.5; Rx Credit 1.0
Learning Objectives:

• Discuss the commonly encountered geriatric issues and syndromes including: altered mental status, functional decline, falls, polypharmacy
• Describe the assessment and work-up for the above listed geriatric issues and syndromes
• Discuss the pharmacologic management of the above listed geriatric issues and syndromes