APCblogit

Stopping schizophrenia

Do you know the warning signs of schizophrenia? Diagnosing schizophrenia early may improve outcomes for your patients.

Nurse practitioner: The career of the future?

Learn more about the growth of your field. How will this affect you or your practice?

Having babies at home

Many families are opting to birth their children at home, rather than a hospital. Is this a safe option? What do you think? Read more about this topic in the August issue of OBG Management.

Are you at risk for a heart attack?

Becky Captain, RN, BC, FNP-C describes how to tell if you are at risk for a heart attack, coronary heart disease, or heart disease.

If a Health-Care Bill Passes, Nurse Practitioners Could Be Key

The health care reform could lead to a shortage of primary care physicians. Nurse practitioners will fill this role

Do you treat patients with sex addiction?

How can you spot warning signs and provide treatment to help your patient achieve the best outcomes? Find out by clicking here.

The Crisis in Children’s Mental Healthcare

An in-depth look at the breakdown in the mental health care system, featuring five families who share personal stories of frustration, anguish, and loss.

Wound care for elderly patients

As your patients age, they become more susceptible to chronic conditions that compromise skin integrity. How would you treat an older patient with skin break down due to ulcer and chronic wound formation? Read this recent article from Clinical Interventions in Aging and let us know what you think!

Help your patients sleep better

A recent article in the Journal  of Advanced Nursing has suggested that music-assisted  relaxation can improve the quality of your patients’ sleep. What techniques do you recommend to help your patients get a good night’s sleep?

AAPA’s Town Hall

This is the 13th installment of the series, in which Bill Leinweber, President Cindy Lord, and President-Elect Stephen Hanson discuss heath care reform in this segment of the AAPA Town Hall.

Find other installments in the related videos column.

The Importance of Forgiveness for Health and Healing

Nurse Practitioner JoAnne M. Saxe explores the profound connection between forgiveness and health. Watch this video from The University of California. Watch the video here: http://www.uctv.tv/search-details.aspx?showID=11971

Health care stories

A collection of people telling their health care-related stories. How do you think the health care reform will fix some of the financial difficulties many individuals and families are facing?

An online cardiac risk assessment for your patients

Diane Klinger, a nurse practitioner at Henry Ford Hospital, discusses a free, interactive online cardiac risk assessment test now available for consumers at henryford.com/knowyournumbers.

Key Senate panel sets brisk pace for health system reform package

The Senate Finance Committee, whose leaders appear to have taken the helm in the health system reform debate, started a round of public talks with health organizations in a run-up to an aggressive reform timetable. Read more about it here.

The Midwife: A Memoir of Birth, Joy, and Hard Times

Jennifer Worth’s new book recounts her experience as a nurse midwife in the 1950s. Watch an exclusive interview with the author.

Pregnancy and exercise

Karen Slesnick, an NP from the Palo Alto Medical Foundation wants to keep your patients in shape during their pregnancy. Watch her tips for safe exercise during pregnancy.

NPs and end-of-life care

When a patient's health care team decides that medical treatment will no longer help a chronic condition, testing and treatment ceases . However, the patient must still be cared for. As an NP or a PA, you probably actively care for patients during their end-of-life. Are you up to date on the latest models for this type of care?  What will the future bring? Watch this video presented by the Duke Univerisity School of Medicine.

Esophageal cancer and your patients

Esophageal cancer can be caused by chronic conditions, like GERD, or by alcohol or tobacco use. There has been an increased incidence in the past 10 to 15 years. If your patient presents with painful or difficultly swallowing, it could be esophageal cancer. Depending on the type of cancer your patient has, surgery may be a reliable option.

Medical decisions of the underinsured

The media reminds us that nearly 45 millions Americans are without health insurance. But what about the "underinsured--those who have health insurance, but also have out-of-pocket health expenses that total 10% of their income? In this time of economic uncertainty, combined with rising healthcare costs, the United States has cultivated one of the highest rates of out-of-pocket healthcare costs. What can NPs and PAs do to help their patients pay for their costs?

Podcast series on spine health

Click here to download a 5-part series on spine health to your iPod.