The Nurse Practitioner Mentor Blog 

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.

...

The influenza vaccine is one of the most common — and most debated — vaccines you’ll recommend in primary care. As a new nurse practitioner, it’s essential to know who needs it, which type to use, and how to counsel hesitant patients.

Who Should Get the Flu Vaccine?

• Everyone ≥6 months old (u...

Perimenopause basics
 

Perimenopause is the transition period—the months to years before menopause—when ovarian hormones fluctuate and cycles become irregular. During this time, many patients ask their primary care nurse practitioner (NP) about hormone therapy (HRT). For the right candidates, HRT is...

Perimenopause is getting the attention it deserves. Many patients want to talk hormone therapy (HRT)—and for the right candidates, it’s safe and very effective for symptom relief.

What Is Perimenopause?

The months–years before menopause (final menstrual period), when ovarian estrogen and progest...

What is CAC?

A noninvasive, low-dose, non-contrast CT that measures calcified plaque in the coronary arteries and reports a calcium score.

• Higher scores = higher future risk of MI and stroke.

• It doesn’t see soft (non-calcified) plaque, so a low score doesn’t fully exclude CAD—but CAC re

  ...

A thyroid nodule is a rounded growth within the thyroid gland. Most adult nodules are benign, but evaluation matters because a small percentage are malignant.

Who Gets Them (and why that matters)

• Children: Nodules are less common but more likely malignant → early endocrine/surgical referral.

  ...

Quick reminder: confirm the patient wasn’t taking biotin at the time of the lab draw—biotin can cause false labs that mimic hyperthyroidism (TSH artifactually low, T4/T3 high). Ask patients to hold biotin 48 hours before repeat testing.

Typical Lab Pattern

• TSH: low/suppressed

• Free T4 an...

Typical lab pattern

• TSH: high

• Free T4: low

• T3: normal or low (often not necessary to diagnose)

Treatment goals

1. Reverse hypothyroid symptoms

2. Normalize TSH (and FT4)

3. Reduce goiter size (if present)

First-Line: Levothyroxine (T4)

Why: Physiologic, stable ha...