The Nurse Practitioner

Mpox (formerly “monkeypox”) is a viral zoonosis that presents similarly to smallpox but is less contagious and causes less severe disease. Mpox may be transmitted from infected animals to humans through direct contact or a scratch or bite. Human-to-human transmission occurs through direct contact, respiratory droplets, and fomites. Two vaccines, JYNNEOS ® and ACAM2000®, are currently available for postexposure prophylaxis as well as for prevention in certain populations at high risk for mpox. Most cases of mpox are self-limited; however, tecovirimat, brincidofovir, and cidofovir are available as treatments for at-risk populations.

Dementia with Lewy bodies is the second most common type of neurodegenerative dementia in older adults. NPs in primary care must have a thorough understanding of this complex disease in order to ensure appropriate referrals, provide patient and caregiver education, and comanage this disease with other healthcare professionals.

The colorectal surgery advanced practice fellowship was developed for the purpose of providing a successful transition to the colorectal advanced practice specialty and was based on the success of the NP utilization model. The success of the fellowship led to NP practice autonomy, job satisfaction, and retention.

Most primary care providers do not routinely discuss nutrition and diet with their patients, largely due to lack of time, inadequate resources, and perceived complexity of the topic. This article describes development and implementation of a brief protocol for systematically assessing and discussing diet during routine primary care visits to increase the frequency of these conversations and improve patient health outcomes.