The Nurse Practitioner Mentor Blog 

Shingles (herpes zoster) is more than just a rash — it can cause weeks of pain, post-herpetic neuralgia, and even vision loss. As a new nurse practitioner in primary care, you’ll frequently get asked: Who needs the shingles vaccine?Here’s a quick, practical guide you can use in clinic.

Who Should...

Pneumococcal disease can cause pneumonia, meningitis, and sepsis — especially in older or immunocompromised patients. As a new nurse practitioner in primary care, you’ll need to know which pneumococcal vaccine to give, when to give it, and how to explain the options to patients.

Who Needs Pneumoc...

As new nurse practitioners in primary care, you’ll frequently encounter questions about vaccines — and the Hepatitis B vaccine is one that comes up often. Who needs it? Which schedule to use? When should you check titers? Here’s a practical, no-fluff guide you can use in clinic.

Why Hepatitis B V...

Bone health is a frequent issue in primary care, and as a new nurse practitioner, you’ll often see DEXA reports that read “osteopenia” or “osteoporosis.” Understanding the difference — and knowing when to treat versus when to monitor — is essential for safe, confident practice.

Definitions at ...

Osteoporosis management goes beyond just prescribing calcium and vitamin D. As new nurse practitioners in primary care, you’ll see patients who already have a diagnosis — or who screen positive with a DEXA. The key is knowing when to treat, which therapy to choose, and how to monitor safely.

Wh...

Osteoporosis is often silent until a fracture occurs — and by then, it’s too late. As new nurse practitioners in primary care, understanding who to screen and how to interpret results is essential. Here’s a no-fluff, step-by-step guide you can use in clinic.

Who Needs Screening?

Women

• Age...

High blood pressure is one of the most common issues in primary care. But sometimes numbers come back very high— and as a new nurse practitioner, it can be hard to know when to panic and when to manage in clinic. The key: distinguishing hypertensive urgency from hypertensive emergency.

Definiti...

Statins remain the cornerstone of dyslipidemia and cardiovascular risk management. But in primary care, patients often report side effects — most commonly muscle aches. For new nurse practitioners, the challenge is distinguishing true statin intolerance from other causes, while still reducing ASCVD ...

 Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) are often silent until they rupture—and rupture is almost always catastrophic. The good news: timely screening saves lives. As primary care providers, we’re in the best position to catch aneurysms early and prevent emergencies.

Who Should Be Screened?

• Men...

Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening saves lives. For most adults, screening begins at age 45 and continues through 75. After that, decisions are individualized.

Who Should Be Screened?

• Age 45–75: Screen everyone.

• Age 76–85: Individualize based on health, prior screening, and preferences.

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