Medication Safety and Pharmacology

AANP Resources by Therapeutic Area

Continuing Education Courses

The AANP CE Center offers a wide variety of continuing education (CE) activities for nurse practitioners (NPs). Members get more, including access to many free activities and significantly discounted rates on others. Multiple CE activities are available with pharmacology credit. Topics range from acute pain management to thyroid emergencies and everything in between!

Visit the AANP CE Center

NP Tools and Resources

AANP-developed Resources to Support NPs in Treating Your Patients

• Are you looking for opioid resources? Visit the AANP Pain Management Resource Center.
• Practice Brief: Clinical Management of Withdrawal from Benzodiazepine and Hypnotic Medications.

Implementing Lipid-Lowering Therapeutics in Your Clinical Practice: A Practical Guide for the Nurse Practitioner

The AANP Clinical Resource Tool for Lipid-Lowering Therapeutics empowers NPs with practical, evidence-based strategies to optimize cholesterol management and reduce cardiovascular risk. Designed as a quick reference guide, it highlights guideline-directed statin and nonstatin therapies; clinical pearls for improving adherence; and tips for overcoming common challenges such as side effects and insurance barriers. With actionable insights and patient-centered approaches, this resource equips NPs to confidently implement lipid-lowering therapies and improve long-term outcomes in their practice.

• Access the Tool.

This activity is supported by educational grant funding provided by Amgen and Novartis.

Novel and Emerging Pharmacotherapies for Hypertension

This Clinical Resource Tool on Novel and Emerging Pharmacotherapies for Hypertension equips NPs with practical, evidence-based guidance to address one of the most prevalent and undertreated cardiovascular risk factors in the United States. Designed as a quick clinical reference, it highlights current guideline-directed management strategies, risk stratification approaches and key considerations for identifying and treating resistant hypertension — along with insights into emerging therapies. By combining clinical pearls with actionable treatment information, this resource supports NPs in optimizing hypertension management and improving long-term cardiovascular outcomes for their patients.

• Access the Tool.

This educational activity is supported by an independent medical educational grant from AstraZeneca.

Talking About Vaccinations in the Patient-Centered Medical Home: A Role for Everyone

This clinical tool supports NPs in promoting vaccinations through a team-based approach across all stages of the patient visit. It offers practical strategies for integrating vaccine discussions into workflow, addressing hesitancy and reinforcing strong recommendations. By engaging the full care team, NPs can help create a consistent, pro-vaccine message that improves patient uptake.

• Access the Tool.

This educational activity is supported by independent medical educational grants from GSK, Merck & Co., Inc.,
Moderna and Sanofi US.

External Resources

Conveniently Curated Information from Other Top Sources

There are many resources available for patients and providers. Some of them are listed below for your convenience. Inclusion of these links does not imply AANP endorsement.

Antibiotic Resistance (AR)

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) AR Solutions Initiative offers a number of fact sheets to help practitioners detect, respond, contain and prevent resistant infections across health care settings and communities.
  
• An overview of the CDC's global AR projects to combat AR threats.

Controlled Substances

• The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Diversion Control Division prepared the Practitioner’s Manual to assist in understanding the federal Controlled Substances Act.

Medication Safety and Disposal Tools

• The FDA’s Disposal of Unused Medicines: What You Should Know webpage addresses how to safely dispose of expired, unneeded or unused medicines.
• An overview of safe drug disposal, including a description of several methods to eliminate expired, unneeded and unused medications.
• A flush list of the medications that should be flushed down a drain or toilet when no longer needed and when a drug take-back program is not available.
• A printable PDF copy of the flush list.
• Consumer articles on drug disposal and fentanyl.
• The Joint Clinical Practice Guideline on Benzodiazepine Tapering: Considerations When Benzodiazepine Risks Outweigh Benefits.

Over the Counter (OTC) Medications: Proper Dosing and Safe Use

• Help your patients understand whether OTC medications for pain are right for them and, if so, how to use them safely.
• Help parents understand the correct dosing for OTC medications for children and how to safely keep medications away from children.
• Research shows patients don’t always know the potential risks of double dosing on medicine. Remind them to double-check their medicine labels to avoid doubling up on acetaminophen.
• NPs play a vital role in encouraging safe acetaminophen use. Remind your patients to always read their medicine labels to avoid accidentally double-dosing on acetaminophen.