Clinical Pharmacology Essentials 2024

The ANCC requires all re-certification candidates to complete 75 continuing education hours, plus one or more of the eight ANCC renewal categories in the candidate’s certification specialty. All advanced practice registered nurses (nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists) must complete 25 contact hours of pharmacotherapeutics as a portion of the 75 required hours.

This course provides 16 hours of on demand pharmacotherapeutics. The recordings are designed to be watched on your smartphone or computer. Each topic contains a recording, course slides, and a self-evaluation quiz. 

Price: $299 for 16 Contact Hours

Topic 1: GI Pharmacology Update - Dr. Buch - 4 Hours

Assessing Abdominal Pain: A Practical Review:

• Define the appropriate workup for several interactive cases of acute abdominal pain.

• Illustrate the pitfalls in making a diagnosis.

Clinical Dilemmas in GI Bleeding:

• Describe the limitations of colonoscopy.

• Recognize the importance of “Alarm Symptoms”.

• Describe advanced endoscopic techniques that are used to evaluate GI bleeding.

• Recognize the safe use of anti-platelet and anticoagulation medications post GI bleeding.

Colon Cancer Evaluation and Prevention: What’s New?

• State the best practices that lead to colon cancer prevention.

• Review types of polyps and their consequences.

• Review the pitfalls of colonoscopy screening.

• .Show reasonable alternatives to colonoscopy.

Peptic Ulcer Disease and Helicobacter Highlights:

• Identify the importance of risk factors in the development of UGI bleeding.

• Select appropriate candidates for long term PPI therapy.

• Review noninvasive ways of making a H pylori diagnosis.

• Manage antibiotic therapy for Helicobacter 2024.

Topic 2: An Evidence-Based Approach to Treating T2D in Adults - Dr. Weart - 2 Hours

• Describe the 2024 American Diabetes Association Standards of Care for Patients with Diabetes and the evidence on which they are based.

• Apply the results of landmark diabetes trials that established improved glycemic control reduces the risk of diabetes-related complications in patients with T2D

• Apply the evolving paradigm by which the treatment of T2D (A1C reduction) has shifted to an outcome-based approach focused on risk reduction, particularly in older patients with established CVD, HF, CKD and/or Obesity.

Topic 3: Chronic Kidney Disease Pharmacotherapy - Dr. Vondracek - 2 Hours

• Discuss the mechanisms of action, role and pros/cons of SGLT2-inhibitors, GLP-1 inhibitors and finerenone in the prevention of CKD progression.

• Describe the mechanisms of action, role and pros/cons of therapies for the management of hyperkalemia in patients with CKD.

• Choose appropriate therapy for the management of hyperkalemia in a patient with CKD.

• Describe the mechanisms of action, role, and pros/cons of therapies for the management of anemia in patients with CKD.

• Initiate appropriate iron and ESA therapy in a patient with anemia and CKD.

• Discuss the roles of phosphate, calcium, vitamin D and parathyroid hormone in the development of Chronic Kidney Disease – Mineral and Bone Disorder (CKD-MBD)

• Describe the mechanisms of action, and pros/cons of therapies for the management of CKD-MBD.

• Choose an appropriate therapy for the management of hyperphosphatemia, low vitamin D and secondary hyperparathyroidism in a patient with CKD. 

Topic 4: Treatment of Alzheimer’s, Depression and Adult Onset ADHD/ADD - Dr. Caballero-2 Hours

Alzheimer’s Disease and Depression Treatment

• Explain standard and newer treatment options for cognitive disorders (e.g., Alzheimer’s disease).

• Recognize preferred treatments for managing comorbid psychiatric issues in patients with cognitive disorders.

• Describe how to counsel caregivers and patients regarding treatment options for cognitive disorders.

ADHD

• Identify differences between stimulant medications and formulations.

• Discuss the utility of using non-stimulants in the treatment of adult ADHD.

• Describe comorbidities that may impact treatment in adult ADH.

Topic 5: AHA/ACC/HFSA Guidelines for the Management of Heart Failure, Lipids, and Blood Pressure - Dr. Saseen-2 Hours

• Explain recommendations from the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guidelines for treatment of patients with hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and heart failure.

• Identify the optimal use of combination therapy pharmacotherapy for patients with hypertension, including resistant hypertension.

• Describe the similarities and differences in pharmacotherapy for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

• List recommendations from the ACC Expert Consensus Decision Pathway for nons-statins and treatment of hypertriglyceridemia.

• Discuss new and emerging pharmacotherapy options for patients with dyslipidemia.

• Select treatment plans to treat patients with hypertension, heart failure, and/or dyslipidemia.

Topic 6: Treatment of Anaphylaxis – in Primary Care and Acute Care and Seizures in Acute Care - Dr. Sikora-1 Hour

• Review treatment approach for anaphylaxis.

• Create a treatment plan for the acute management of seizures.

• Identify common adverse effects from common anti-epileptic medications.

Topic 7: Anti-infective Treatment (with Beers criteria) for Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs), Sinusitis, Pneumonia and Cellulitis-Dr. Bland-2 Hours

• Evaluate methods to improve safety of antimicrobial prescribing in the elderly

• Review antimicrobial therapy recommendations within Beers Criteria

• Examine best antimicrobials practices through case application

Topic 8: Pharmacotherapy for Migraine Headaches including Botox for Headaches and TMJ - Dr. Bland-1 Hour

• Review current older management strategies for migraine headaches.

• Discuss role of newer agents including botulinum toxin.

• Examine best practices through case application.