Pulmonary and Respiratory
Continuing Education Courses
The AANP CE Center offers a wide variety of continuing education (CE) activities for nurse practitioners (NPs). Members of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners® (AANP) get more, including access to many free activities and significantly discounted rates on others.
JAANP Resource Center
Find evidence-based articles, up-to-date guidelines and other pulmonology and respiratory resources at this resource center, brought to you by the Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (JAANP).
NP Tools and Resources
AANP-Developed Resources to Support NPs in Treating Your Patients
Adopting and Implementing Adult Pneumococcal Vaccination in Your Clinic
Adult pneumococcal vaccination rates remain suboptimal, with 1 out
of 3 adults age 65 and older being unvaccinated. NPs can make a
tremendous impact on the numbers of adults who have their appropriate
vaccinations. This tool will guide you through the process of making a plan to
increase adult pneumococcal vaccination rates in your practice and walk you
through a step-by-step approach to implement a pneumococcal vaccination
program.
This activity is supported by an independent educational grant from Merck & Co., Inc.
Ask the Immunization Experts
This "Ask the Immunization Experts" handout compiles real-world vaccine questions from clinicians and evidence-based answers from nationally recognized immunization experts, addressing common clinical, communication and systems-level challenges NPs face in daily practice. It provides practical guidance on vaccine timing; safety; hesitancy; billing and documentation; evolving recommendations; and patient-centered counseling strategies — making it immediately applicable across primary care, urgent care, inpatient and community settings. For NPs, this resource is important because it strengthens confidence, saves time at the point of care and equips NPs with clear, science-based messaging to improve patient outcomes and vaccine uptake.
This educational activity is supported by independent medical educational grants from GSK, Merck & Co., Inc, Moderna and Sanofi US.
COPD Evaluation — Clinical Decision-Making for the NP
More than 19 million adults in the U.S. have been diagnosed with COPD, and as much as 70% are undiagnosed. As health care providers seeing nearly a billion patients annually, NPs must be familiar with recent changes in diagnostic and treatment guidelines to impact the high burden of COPD in the U.S., and with the significant amount of preventable complications contributing to more than one-half million hospitalizations, 1.3 million emergency department visits and the cost of over 49.9 billion dollars in health care costs annually. This resource is intended to assist NPs in clinical decision-making as they evaluate and manage COPD.
Made possible by an educational grant from Viatris.
Diagnosing and Managing Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI): The Role of the NP
EPI is a condition caused by damage to the pancreas that results in reduced capability to produce or deliver digestive enzymes which break down fats, carbohydrates or proteins — or to a decrease in the enzyme activity in the small intestine. EPI is most commonly associated with chronic pancreatitis (in adults), cystic fibrosis (in children), diabetes (both type 1 and type 2) and other etiologies such as acute pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer or resection, celiac and Crohn’s disease. Consequently, individuals with EPI may suffer malnutrition and fat-soluble vitamin deficiency; loss of bone mass; growth and immune deficiencies; and may experience poorer outcomes such as longer hospital stays and lower survival rates of underlying medical conditions secondary to malnutrition. This tool provides resources that include evaluation of symptoms and common high-risk conditions, diagnostic testing and management goals combining diet, lifestyle and therapies to reduce symptoms and improve quality of life.
This tool is sponsored by an independent grant from Ironwood Pharmaceuticals and Allergan, an AbbVie company.
Integrating Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Vaccination Into Clinical Practice
This clinical tool supports NPs in identifying and counseling older adult patients at risk for severe RSV-related illness. It provides quick-reference guidance on key risk factors, current vaccination recommendations and effective communication strategies to address vaccine hesitancy. By incorporating the "ABCs of RSV Vaccination" and a patient-centered dialogue framework, NPs can streamline vaccine assessment and delivery, promoting equitable access and improved uptake during every patient encounter.
This educational activity is supported by an independent medical education grant from GSK.
Strategies to Facilitate Smoking Cessation: Patient Scenarios
View this case scenario vignette video of an NP counseling a simulated patient regarding smoking cessation. Observe an interweaving of the "5 As," recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as motivational interviewing techniques.
AANP developed and produced this video through support from Pfizer Inc.
Smoking Cessation Videos: Advice From NPs
Hear from AANP members and expert NPs as you gain advice to help your patients quit smoking.
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.
This educational activity is supported by independent medical educational grants from GSK, Merck & Co., Inc.,
Moderna and Sanofi US.
AANP Community
Engage, Learn, Network and Progress Practice in Pulmonary and Sleep
The AANP Pulmonary and Sleep Community offers a unique opportunity to interactively collaborate with colleagues who share an interest or clinical expertise in pulmonary and sleep. As a community member, you’ll have access to a cutting-edge, online forum where you can engage in discussions, document sharing and knowledge exchange with fellow NPs. Come learn, share and help progress the development of theory and practice in pulmonary and sleep.
External Resources
Conveniently Curated Information From Other Top Sources
There are many resources available for both patients and providers. Some of them are listed below for your convenience. Inclusion of these links does not imply AANP endorsement.
Asthma
COPD
Sleep Apnea
Society of Anesthesia and Sleep Medicine