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.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common functional gastrointestinal disorder and recently has been redefined as a disorder of gut–brain interaction. The symptoms of IBS can be mild to severe and vary from person to person. This resource tool provides information about IBS, including the symptoms, causes, diagnosis and treatment. It also provides tips on managing the symptoms of IBS to improve patient outcomes and quality of life.
Meningococcal Disease and Vaccines
Meningococcal disease — a life-threatening infection caused by Neisseria meningitidis — demands our attention. It strikes swiftly and leaves devastation in its wake, but we have powerful tools at our disposal: MenACWY and MenB vaccines, and now a new pentavalent vaccine that covers serogroups A, B, C, W, and Y. This resource tool provides information about meningococcal disease, including the symptoms, risk factors, diagnosis and treatment. It also provides resource links and handouts for providers and patients.
This educational activity is supported by an independent medical education grant from GSK.
Migraine
Migraine is a highly prevalent, debilitating disease affecting 12% of the global population — including 1 in 5 women, 1 in 6 men and 1 in 11 children. Despite its substantial burdens and widespread impact, fewer than 5% of those who suffer from migraine have seen a health care provider, received an accurate diagnosis and obtained appropriate care. This resource tool is intended to aid the clinician in recognizing the signs and symptoms of migraine, and in understanding the urgent need for accurate diagnosis and appropriate care in migraine management. It also guides the learner through the nuances of migraine management, including CGRP-targeting therapies.
This activity is supported by an independent grant from Pfizer.
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.
Tardive Dyskinesia (TD)
This tool provides invaluable information for clinicians on TD, from recognition through management. In addition, it includes practical strategies to optimizing care and features several video examples and links to supplemental resources. This clinical tool aims to improve clinicians’ familiarity with the signs and symptoms of TD, their competence when applying practical assessment strategies and their ability to use management strategies that reduce the impact of TD.
-
Clinical Practice Briefs
BZD Withdrawals
Clinical Management of Withdrawal from Benzodiazepine and Hypnotic Medications
Benzodiazepine (BZDs) and hypnotics are some of the most widely used medications. In 2019, the FDA estimated that 92 million BZD prescriptions were dispensed, with women having higher rates of prescriptions than men. This practice brief provides a guideline summary, considerations and billing code considerations when managing the withdrawal from benzodiazepine and hypnotic medications.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Management of Patients With Return of Spontaneous Circulation after Cardiac Arrest
Advances in caring for patients with return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) after cardiac arrest resulted in recent updates to post-cardiac arrest care guidelines by the American Heart Association and the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine. These guidelines provide updated multi-disciplinary evidence-based recommendations to optimize survival and functional status. Each guideline offers essential insight into different aspects of post-resuscitation care, and this brief reflects an amalgamation of these guidelines. The interventions described in this practice brief are recommendations for care after ROSC and apply to both OHCA and IHCA scenarios.
Management of Patients With Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage
The American Heart Association (AHA) last updated clinical practice guidelines on managing ICH in 2015. Since then, novel treatment strategies have advanced the standard of care in every aspect of ICH management. These updated guidelines provide evidence-based recommendations for evaluating and treating ICH and for the subsequent management of the hospitalized patient, including the initiation of secondary prevention measures. The ICH guidelines reflect best practices for patients with spontaneous ICH only, and patients with hemorrhagic CVA of other etiology (e.g., epidural hematoma or subarachnoid hemorrhage) are managed per the disease-specific guidelines.
Corticosteroids in Sepsis
Use of Corticosteroids in Sepsis, Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome and Community-Acquired Pneumonia
Corticosteroids are commonly used in the treatment of sepsis, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and hospitalized patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), each of which represents significant critical illnesses with high mortality rates. However, the implementation of corticosteroid therapy varies widely across clinical settings due to differences in interpretation of existing evidence. In response to new research, the Society of Critical Care Medicine has updated its clinical guidelines to provide more consistent, evidence-based recommendations for using corticosteroids in these conditions.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
Mpox
Access the latest recommendations to help guide clinicians regarding Mpox epidemiology, recognition, diagnosis and treatment.
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.
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.
Sepsis and Septic Shock
In 2001, The Surviving Sepsis Campaign (a multidisciplinary collaboration between the Society of Critical Care Medicine, the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine, and the International Sepsis Forum) released regularly updated guidelines for clinicians caring for patients with sepsis and septic shock. The most recent iteration of these guidelines was released in late 2021 and is summarized in this practice brief.
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.
Nephrology
Diabetic Kidney Disease
This practice brief provides an overview and guidelines for clinicians caring for patients living with diabetes to assist with monitoring and lessen the risk for progression toward diabetic kidney disease (DKD). The guidelines discussed in this brief are written by the international organization, Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO), which develops and implements evidence-based clinical practice guidelines in kidney disease.
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.
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.
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.
Pain Management
Guidelines for Prescribing Opioid Medications
The CDC has provided updated recommendations on safe opioid prescribing for non-cancer pain. An overview of evidence-based practices, incorporating the current CDC recommendations for safe opioid prescribing, are provided in this practice brief.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.