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Point of Care Tools

Enhance Patient Care With Point of Care Tools and Clinical Practice Briefs

Developed as a handy reference for nurse practitioners (NPs) and patients, these point of care tools provide detailed information about specific health care concerns, offer current practice guidelines and include links to additional sources that can further support the delivery of high-quality care. To ensure convenient access in clinical settings, during house calls or when you are on the go, the American Association of Nurse Practitioners® (AANP) has also made these tools available through the AANP Mobile App!

  • Point of Care Tools

    Ankylosing Spondylitis

    Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disease that has become increasingly more prevalent over the past 20 years. This toolkit provides primary care NPs with essential information on AS and emphasizes the importance of early referral, diagnosis and treatment to improve patient outcomes and quality of life.

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    Opioid Use Disorder

    The opioid epidemic continues to surge across the U.S., so AANP developed an opioid use disorder (OUD) point of care tool as a reference guide for NPs to easily access as needed. The guide provides information regarding the disease state, symptoms and treatments of this chronic, relapsing disease of the brain. Supported by Indivior, Inc.

    Access the Tool

  • Clinical Practice Briefs

    Cardiology

    American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology Guideline on Lifestyle Management to Reduce Cardiovascular Risk — 2013

    The American Heart Association (AHA) and the American College of Cardiology (ACC) recently released several guidelines to prevent cardiovascular diseases and improve the management of these diseases.

    View the Practice Brief

    American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology/Heart Rhythm Society Guideline for the Management of Patients With Atrial Fibrillation

    These 2014 recommendations from the AHA, ACC and Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) explore atrial fibrillation (AF), a supraventricular tachycardia characterized by uncoordinated atrial activation and ineffective contraction.

    View the Practice Brief

    Management of Acute Ischemic Stroke

    In 2019, the AHA released an up-to-date, comprehensive set of guidelines for clinicians caring for patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). The updated guidelines provide high-quality, evidence-based recommendations for the evaluation and treatment of AIS and the subsequent management of hospitalized patients, including the initiation of secondary prevention measures.

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    Management of High Blood Pressure in Adults

    This long-awaited updated guideline on the management of hypertension in adults differs from its predecessor (Seventh Joint National Committee [JNC 7]) in a number of ways.

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    Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat

    Allergic Rhinitis Clinical Practice Guideline

    The purpose of the guideline, developed by the American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Foundation, is to discuss quality improvement for all clinicians and to promote accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

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    Genetics

    Genetic Counseling and Testing by Advanced Practice Providers

    In an online search through the National Guideline Clearinghouse, only two general non-disease-specific guidelines out of more than 100 different clinical guidelines address genetic counseling and testing.

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    Health Promotion and Wellness

    Practice Parameter for the Assessment and Treatment of Children and Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorder

    A recently updated practice parameter from the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) offers revised guidelines for assessing and treating children and adolescents (at or younger than 17 years of age) with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

    View the Practice Brief

    Sleep Disorder Management Diagnostic Treatment Guidelines Summary

    AIM Specialty Health® (AIM) issued updated guidelines on polysomnography and home sleep testing in 2019. AIM promotes safe, cost-effective and appropriate specialty services. Guidelines are devised based on grading of evidence.

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    Infectious Disease

    Management of Post-COVID-19 Conditions

    Access the latest guidance for the management of multiple post-COVID conditions, as well as references to the full Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance.

    View the Practice Brief

    Measles: Recommendations for Assessment, Treatment and Prevention

    The CDC provides guidance for health care providers on the assessment, treatment and prevention of measles in Measles for Healthcare Professionals.

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    Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis for HIV Prevention — Injectable

    Access the latest guidance to support the successful implementation of injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for the prevention of HIV infection in high-risk populations.

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    Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis for HIV Prevention — Oral

    Obtain information about CDC guidelines related to the implementation of oral PrEP to prevent HIV infection in high-risk populations.

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    Strategies to Prevent Clostridium Difficile Infections in Acute Care Hospitals: 2014 Update

    The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) and the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) along with the American Hospital Association and the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) have collaborated in updating these guidelines.

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    Obesity and Weight Management

    Pharmacological Management of Obesity: Obesity Management Association (OMA) 2020 Obesity Algorithm

    The OMA 2020 Obesity Algorithm discusses the management of obesity and includes pharmacologic guidance as an adjunct in the foundational treatment of obesity: diet, activity and behavioral interventions.

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    Oncology and Hematology

    Breast Cancer Screening Guidelines Summary

    Among the multiple published professional breast cancer screening guidelines, three commonly used guidelines are summarized here: the American Cancer Society (ACS), American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) guidelines.

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    Colorectal Cancer Screening Guidelines Summary

    This brief provides guidance for clinicians regarding the implementation of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening, based on the 2021 USPSTF guidelines for asymptomatic individuals with average risk.

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    Pain Management

    Opioids for Chronic, Non-cancer Pain: A Position Paper of the American Academy of Neurology

    AAN has reviewed the literature and issued a position paper regarding long-term use of opioids in the treatment of non-cancer pain. This review summarizes the position paper as it has direct application for advanced nursing practice.

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    Practice Guideline Update: Acute Treatment of Migraine in Children and Adolescents

    The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) provides multidisciplinary clinical practice guidelines based on evidence-based practice, including these on counseling, diagnosis, evaluation, management and treatment for acute migraine in children and adolescents.

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    Practice Guideline Update: Preventive Treatment of Migraine in Children and Adolescents

    AAN provides multidisciplinary clinical practice guidelines based on evidence-based practice, including these best practices on counseling, diagnosis, evaluation, management and treatment for preventive migraine in children and adolescents.

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    Primary Care Management of Headaches in Adults

    Toward Optimized Practice (TOP) of Alberta, Canada, provides multidisciplinary clinical practice guidelines that are based on evidence-based practice.

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    Psych and Mental Health

    Primary Care Diagnosis and Management of Adults With Depression

    The 2014 updated guideline was compiled by the Michigan Quality Improvement Consortium. The recommendations were drawn from a synthesis of published studies, existing protocols and national guidelines.

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    Pulmonary and Respiratory

    Global Strategy for the Diagnosis, Management and Prevention of COPD, Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) 2020

    The original Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease* (GOLD) was released in 2001 and was revised in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2020, based on scientific literature. The 2020 report follows the same model as previous reports.

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    Women's Health

    Menopausal Symptoms: Comparative Effectiveness of Therapies

    The Agency for Quality Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) published a report from 2015 comparing the effectiveness of therapies for menopausal symptoms.

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