NP Study Library
The clinical content itself, written for the provider role: assessment, diagnosis, the next test, the first drug, follow-up and referral, by body system and population.
40 free study guides across 8 topics
← All NPPace guidesCardiovascularEndocrine & MetabolicRespiratory & Infectious DiseaseGI, Renal & GenitourinaryMusculoskeletal, Neurology & DermatologyMental Health in Primary CarePediatrics & Women's Health (FNP)Geriatrics & Prescribing (AGNP)
Cardiovascular →
Hypertension staging and first drugs, lipids by ASCVD risk, heart failure follow-up, atrial fibrillation anticoagulation and the chest-pain decisions of primary care.
Statin Decisions by ASCVD Risk: Who Gets a Statin, Which Intensity and How to MonitorStatin decisions for the NP exam: 2018 benefit groups and the 2026 PREVENT risk tiers, statin intensity doses, LDL goals
Hypertension on the NP Exam: Staging, When to Start Medication and the First Drug2025 AHA/ACC hypertension for the NP exam: confirm and stage the pressure, apply the PREVENT 7.5 percent rule to stage 1
Heart Failure Follow-Up in Primary Care: GDMT, Weights, Labs and When to ReferHeart failure follow-up for the NP exam: classify by ejection fraction, titrate the four GDMT classes, time the labs, te
Choosing the First Antihypertensive by Comorbidity: Diabetes, CKD, Heart Failure, Pregnancy and AgeFirst antihypertensive by comorbidity: ACE inhibitor or ARB for albuminuria, GDMT for HFrEF, labetalol or nifedipine in
Atrial Fibrillation in the Clinic: CHA2DS2-VASc, Anticoagulant Choice and Rate ControlAtrial fibrillation for the NP exam: score CHA2DS2-VASc, start a DOAC at 2 or more in men and 3 or more in women, dose i
Endocrine & Metabolic →
Type 2 diabetes from metformin to the second agent, A1c targets by patient, thyroid labs and titration, prediabetes, obesity and osteoporosis.
Thyroid Labs and Levothyroxine Titration: TSH Patterns, Starting Doses and Recheck TimingRead TSH and free T4 patterns, start levothyroxine at 1.6 mcg/kg or 12.5 to 25 mcg with heart disease, adjust by 12.5 to
Prediabetes: Diagnosis Thresholds, Lifestyle Prescription and When Metformin Is ReasonablePrediabetes is A1c 5.7 to 6.4, fasting glucose 100 to 125 or OGTT 140 to 199. Who to screen, the 5 to 7 percent lifestyl
Osteoporosis in Primary Care: Who to Screen, Reading the T-Score, FRAX and First-Line TreatmentScreen women 65 and up by DXA, diagnose osteoporosis at a T-score of -2.5 or lower, treat osteopenia at FRAX hip 3 or ma
Type 2 Diabetes on the NP Exam: Starting Metformin and Choosing the Second AgentStart metformin at the labeled dose, apply the eGFR rules, then pick the second agent by ASCVD, heart failure, CKD, weig
A1c Targets by Patient: Age, Comorbidity, Hypoglycemia Risk and What the Exam ExpectsADA 2026 A1c goals by patient: under 7 percent by default, under 6.5 when safe, under 8 when frail, and no number in ver
Respiratory & Infectious Disease →
Asthma step therapy, COPD groups and inhalers, outpatient pneumonia, urinary tract infection choices and durations, pharyngitis and the antibiotics the exams test.
UTI Antibiotic Choices and Durations: Cystitis, Pyelonephritis, Men, Pregnancy and RecurrenceUTI antibiotics for the NP exam: first-line cystitis drugs and days, 2025 IDSA complicated UTI durations, men, pregnancy
Sore Throat in the Clinic: Centor Scoring, When to Test for Strep and What to PrescribeStrep throat for the NP exam: Centor and McIsaac points, who to test, backup cultures, IDSA 2012 penicillin and amoxicil
Outpatient Community-Acquired Pneumonia: Who Goes Home, Which Antibiotic and Follow-UpOutpatient CAP for the NP exam: PSI and CURB-65 cut-offs, ATS/IDSA 2019 regimens with and without comorbidities, 2025 AT
COPD in Primary Care: GOLD Groups, Inhaler Choice and When to Add WhatGOLD 2026 COPD for the NP exam: grades vs ABE groups, LABA plus LAMA first, eosinophil cut-offs of 100 and 300 for ICS,
Asthma Step Therapy on the NP Exam: GINA Tracks, Stepping Up and Stepping DownGINA 2025 asthma steps for the FNP and AGNP exam: Track 1 ICS-formoterol reliever and MART, Track 2 ICS plus SABA, contr
GI, Renal & Genitourinary →
GERD and H. pylori, irritable bowel, liver enzymes, chronic kidney disease staging and dose adjustment, and the common genitourinary presentations.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome in Primary Care: Rome IV Diagnosis, Red Flags and Treatment by SubtypeIBS for NP boards: Rome IV criteria, subtyping by stool form, red flags, the limited ACG 2021 work-up, and first-line tr
GERD and H. pylori on the NP Exam: PPI Trials, Alarm Features, Testing and Eradication RegimensGERD and H. pylori for NP boards: the 8-week PPI trial, alarm features, endoscopy off PPI, who to test, 14-day bismuth q
Genitourinary Presentations in Primary Care: BPH, Overactive Bladder, Urethritis and When to ReferBPH, overactive bladder and urethritis for NP boards: IPSS, alpha blockers and 5-ARIs, AUA/SUFU 2024 OAB care, CDC 2021
Chronic Kidney Disease for the NP Exam: KDIGO Staging, Albuminuria, Kidney-Protective Drugs and Dose AdjustmentCKD for NP boards: KDIGO 2024 G and A staging, ACE inhibitor or ARB and SGLT2 inhibitor rules, the 30% creatinine rule,
Abnormal Liver Enzymes: Patterns, the First Work-Up and When to ReferAbnormal liver enzymes for NP boards: R ratio patterns, ACG 2017 severity tiers and first labs, Gilbert syndrome, MASLD
Musculoskeletal, Neurology & Dermatology →
Low back pain red flags, osteoarthritis and gout, headache classification, dizziness, and the rashes and skin lesions that need a biopsy or a referral.
Rashes and Skin Lesions in Primary Care: Common Patterns, Topical Steroid Potency and When to Biopsy or ReferSkin for NP boards: eczema, psoriasis, tinea and acne patterns, topical steroid potency by site, ABCDE and ugly-duckling
Osteoarthritis and Gout in Primary Care: Diagnosis, First-Line Drugs and Urate-Lowering TherapyOA and gout for NP boards: clinical diagnosis, ACR 2019 first-line OA care, flare drugs, ULT indications, start-low allo
Low Back Pain on the NP Exam: Red Flags, When to Image and First-Line ManagementLow back pain for FNP and AGNP boards: the red flags that trigger imaging, when MRI is urgent, the ACP first-line nondru
Headache for the NP Exam: Migraine vs Tension vs Cluster, Red Flags and Acute vs Preventive TreatmentHeadache for NP boards: ICHD-3 criteria for migraine, tension-type and cluster, SNNOOP10 red flags, triptan and gepant u
Dizziness and Peripheral Neuropathy: Sorting Vertigo From Presyncope and the Neuropathy Work-UpDizziness and neuropathy for NP boards: timing and triggers, Dix-Hallpike and Epley, HINTS, orthostatic cut-offs, neurop
Mental Health in Primary Care →
Depression and anxiety screening and first-line prescribing, ADHD, insomnia, substance use and when to refer.
Substance Use in Primary Care: Screening Tools, Alcohol Withdrawal Risk, Buprenorphine and When to ReferUSPSTF alcohol and drug screening, AUDIT-C versus CAGE, ASAM 2020 CIWA-Ar bands, buprenorphine dosing and post-X-waiver
Insomnia: Why CBT-I Comes First, Which Drugs When, and the Older-Adult RulesACP 2016 and AASM 2021 make CBT-I first-line for chronic insomnia; AASM 2017 drugs for onset versus maintenance, Beers r
Depression in Primary Care: PHQ-9 Screening, Starting an SSRI and the Follow-Up ScheduleUSPSTF 2023 depression screening, PHQ-9 cut-offs, suicide risk with the C-SSRS and 988, first-line SSRI choice, follow-u
Anxiety Disorders for the NP Exam: GAD-7, Panic, First-Line Drugs and When Benzodiazepines Are WrongUSPSTF 2023 anxiety screening, GAD-2 and GAD-7 cut-offs, GAD versus panic disorder, SSRI or SNRI plus CBT first-line, an
ADHD in Primary Care: Assessment Across Ages, Stimulant Choice, Monitoring and Controlled-Substance RulesAAP 2019 ADHD guideline by age, DSM-5 criteria, adult ASRS screening, stimulant versus nonstimulant, monitoring, and DEA
Pediatrics & Women's Health (FNP) →
Well-child milestones and immunizations, otitis media, contraception by medical condition, prenatal visits and labs, and menopause management.
Well-Child Visits for the FNP Exam: Milestones by Age, Screening Schedule and ImmunizationsWell-child care for the FNP exam: Bright Futures visit and screening ages, CDC 2022 milestones by age, routine vaccines
Prenatal Care for the FNP Exam: Visit Schedule, Labs by Trimester and the Numbers to KnowPrenatal care for the FNP exam: visit schedule, first-visit labs, glucose cut-offs at 24 to 28 weeks, Rh immune globulin
Menopause Symptom Management: Who Can Have Hormone Therapy, Who Cannot and the Nonhormone OptionsMenopause for the NP exam: who qualifies for hormone therapy under NAMS 2022, the contraindications, and the 2023 nonhor
Contraception by Medical Condition: Using the US MEC on the FNP ExamUS MEC 2024 for the FNP exam: categories 1 to 4, category 4 estrogen conditions, postpartum timing, drug interactions, a
Acute Otitis Media: Diagnosis Criteria, Watchful Waiting vs Antibiotics and the Dosing the Exam ExpectsAOM for the FNP exam: AAP 2013 bulging-TM criteria, who can be observed, amoxicillin 80 to 90 mg/kg/day, failure and all
Geriatrics & Prescribing (AGNP) →
Beers Criteria, polypharmacy review, dementia screening, falls assessment and deprescribing: the older-adult decisions both exams weight heavily.
Polypharmacy Review in 10 Minutes: A Provider's Method for the Visit and the ExamA 10-minute medication review for older adults: reconcile, match each drug to an indication, screen with Beers and STOPP
Falls Assessment in Older Adults: STEADI, Gait Tests, Medications and the HomeCDC STEADI and the 2022 World Falls Guidelines for NP candidates: screening questions, TUG and chair stand cut-offs, ort
Deprescribing Benzodiazepines and Proton Pump Inhibitors: Tapers That Work and How to MonitorThe deprescribing.org benzodiazepine (2018) and PPI (2017) guidelines: who qualifies, the 25 percent taper, lower-dose o
Dementia Screening in Primary Care: Mini-Cog, MoCA, the Reversible Causes Work-Up and ReferralMini-Cog, MoCA and MMSE cut-offs, the USPSTF 2020 I statement, tier 1 labs and MRI for contributing causes, cholinestera
Beers Criteria on the NP Exam: The Drugs to Avoid in Older Adults and What to Use InsteadThe 2023 AGS Beers Criteria for FNP and AGNP candidates: the avoid list by class, drug-disease pairs, renal cut-offs, sa