In this second episode of a three-part series, Drs. Ruth Carrico and Paula Tucker explore the challenges of medical misinformation, its impact on patient care and strategies for navigating the overwhelming flow of health information in today’s digital age. The discussion covers the rise of the "infodemic” how misinformation spreads and how nurse practitioners (NPs) can critically evaluate medical literature to ensure evidence-based practice.

The hosts share real-world experiences from the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the difficulties of adapting to rapidly evolving guidelines while maintaining public trust. They also discuss the role of social determinants of health in the spread of misinformation and provide practical solutions for mitigating misinformation in clinical settings.

Key Takeaways:

Understanding the Infodemic:

Misinformation Drivers and Consequences:

How NPs Can Combat Misinformation:

Evaluating Evidence-Based Information:

Trusted Resources for Patients and Providers:

To claim 1.1 contact hours (CH) of continuing education (CE) credit for this program, “Navigating the Infodemic: A Call for Critical Thinking to Optimize Patient Care,” search for this program by the title and complete the posttest and evaluation by entering the participation code provided after listening to the podcast. “This activity is sponsored by an independent medical education grant from Kenvue.”

Tool: https://www.aanp.org/practice/clinical-resources-for-nps/clinical-resources-by-therapeutic-area/primary-care

Next Episode Preview:

In the final episode of this series, Drs. Carrico and Tucker will dive into practical strategies for debunking medical myths, patient-centered communication techniques and choosing the right battles when addressing misinformation.

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This week’s guest on NP Pulse: The Voice of the Nurse Practitioner® is Elizabeth (Liz) Hutson, an NP and expert in the field of child psychiatry. Hutson walks us through some of the latest developments in understanding and treating neurodiversity in children and adolescents, the importance of early screening for autism and ADHD and what she believes every NP should know about seeing and treating neurodiverse patients.

On today’s episode of NP Pulse, women’s health nurse practitioner and academic Sandi Tenfelde, PhD, APRN, WHNP-BC, shares her vision of holistic patient care. In particular, Tenfelde discusses health promotion, disease prevention and dives deep into polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and how to best “empower patients and educate them about what’s going on in their body.” 

Join AANP's Women's Health Community and help progress the development of theory and practice in women’s health.

The 2025 AANP National Conference includes sessions on women's health and PCOS. Learn more about attending in person June 17-22 or online beginning June 27.

On this episode of NP Pulse: The Voice of the Nurse Practitioner®️, we dissect the pervasive stigma surrounding substance use disorders, tracing its historical origins and critiquing past punitive measures through compelling firsthand accounts. It’s a urgent call to shift perspectives and adopt a more effective, compassionate approach — prepare to be engaged and inspired.

A participation code will be provided at the end of the podcast — make sure to write this code down. One you have listened to the podcast and have the participation code, return to this activity in the AANP CE Center. Click on the "Next Steps" button of the activity and:

In this first of three podcasts on medical misinformation titled, "Wash Your Hands!: Discerning Facts from the Preposterous vs. Plausible," NP experts Paula Tucker and Ruth Carrico focus on the critical issue of medical misinformation in the United States and its widespread impact. The content aims to help listeners identify medical information they've accepted without credible evidence and apply critical thinking to determine the validity of commonly accepted medical claims. This episode explores the role of biases, health care disparities and social determinants of health in perpetuating misinformation. It emphasizes the importance of asking the right questions, seeking reliable data and recognizing the hallmarks of unfounded health claims. The accompanying educational resource, "A Clinician's Guide to Medical Misinformation – Part 1: Discernment," provides a comprehensive review of misinformation hallmarks, common tactics and real-world clinical scenarios to help health care professionals and patients navigate the complex landscape of health information.

Learning Objectives:

To claim 1.0 contact hours (CH) of continuing education (CE) credit for this program, "Wash Your Hands! Discerning Facts from the Preposterous vs. Plausible," click here to go to the AANP CE Center and complete the post-test and evaluation by entering the participation code provided after listening to the podcast.

Download the clinical resource here.

This podcast and resource tool were supported by an independent medical education grant from Kenvue. 

Rare Disease Day takes place on the last day of February every year. More than 30 million people in the United States are affected by over 7,000 rare diseases. Acute hepatic porphyria (AHP) is one of these rare diseases and carries with it a substantial disease burden. Delayed diagnosis, misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis frequently occur in the journey of the person living with AHP, with the average time from symptom onset to diagnosis being 15 years.

On today’s episode, nurse practitioners (NPs) Drs. Laurie Connors and Paula Tucker discuss the clinical presentation and symptoms that are associated with AHP as well as management, attack prevention and treatment strategies. NPs are important members of the collaborative care team for people living with this condition and their families.

A participation code will be provided at the end of the podcast — make sure to write this code down. One you have listened to the podcast and have the participation code, return to this activity in the CE Center. Click on the "Next Steps" button of the activity and

This will award your CE credit and certificate of completion. 0.75 CE, 0.25 RX, will be available through Feb. 28 , 2026.

This activity is supported by an independent educational grant from Alnylam.

Join us as we navigate the evolving landscape of colorectal cancer (CRC ) screening. In this episode, our expert faculty Drs. Wendy Wright and Roseann Velez delve into the critical importance of early CRC detection — especially in younger patients. We'll explore the latest expert consensus guidelines, the array of screening tests available and the barriers to effective screening. With robust data and real-world insights, this podcast aims to empower nurse practitioners with knowledge and tools to improve CRC screening uptake and outcomes. Tune in to learn how proactive screening can save lives and reduce the burden of CRC.

To claim 1.0 contact hours of continuing education (CE) credit for this program, (Early Detection Saves Lives: Navigating the Evolving Landscape of Colorectal Cancer Screening), search for this program by the title and complete the post-test and evaluation by entering the participation code given after listening to the podcast.

This podcast was supported by an independent medical education grant from Exact Sciences.

Download the patient handout here

Diabetes is an ancient affliction, but medical breakthroughs and new tools are constantly being developed to assist health care providers in treating patients with the disease. To speak about these new innovations on NP Pulse is Dr. Eligio David P. Soliman Jr., a diabetes expert and NP based in San Diego. Soliman discusses the relationship between COVID-19 and diabetes, some of the recent advances in diabetes care and the importance of communicating with patients.

If you’re interested in endocrinology, the AANP Endocrine Community offers a unique opportunity to collaborate with colleagues who share interest or clinical expertise in diabetes care. As an AANP Community member, you’ll have access to a cutting-edge, online forum where you can engage in discussions, document sharing and knowledge exchange with your fellow NPs.

In the first of four episodes on adolescent health, hosts Jessica Peck and Ashley Hodges draw on their 65 years of combined experience to tackle teen dating violence from a log in to the CE Center, search for this program by name and complete the post-test and evaluation by entering the participation code that is given after listening to the podcast.

This year, AANP celebrates its 40th anniversary. What began as an idea sprouted under an apple tree in Jan Towers’ backyard has become an organization representing the interests of more than 385,000 licensed NPs in the country. Sharing their reminiscences of AANP and the NP role from the 80s until today are a group of NPs pivotal in the history of AANP — Elayne DeSimone, Richard Ricciardi, Kim Curry and Stephen Ferrara — who speak about their contributions to AANP and what they hope the future holds for all NPs.