NCNP Fall 2025 Program

When You're The Hostage Negotiator AND The Hostage: Applying FBI Techniques To Your Patient Encounters

Presented by: Michael Sharma

In high-stress clinical situations, nurse practitioners often play the dual role of caregiver and emotional anchor. This unique session draws on FBI hostage negotiation techniques to help you navigate difficult patient encounters with empathy, control, and clarity. Learn proven communication strategies — including active listening, rapport-building, and tactical empathy — to de-escalate tension, manage conflict, and maintain professional boundaries. Through real-life clinical scenarios, you’ll discover how to stay calm under pressure while advocating effectively for patient safety and your own well-being. Whether facing anger, fear, or resistance, this session will equip you to lead with confidence — even when you're both the negotiator and the hostage.

Gene Therapy and RNA Therapeutics in Primary Care

Presented by: Julia Rogers

Step into the future of medicine with this insightful session on gene therapy and RNA-based therapeutics tailored for the primary care setting. Nurse practitioners will gain a foundational understanding of how these cutting-edge treatments work, their current FDA-approved applications, and their potential to revolutionize the management of genetic, infectious, and chronic diseases. Learn how to identify patients who may benefit, interpret emerging clinical data, and counsel patients on risks, benefits, and expectations. Case-based discussions will highlight real-world integration into practice. Expand your clinical knowledge and prepare to lead in the evolving landscape of precision and genomic medicine.

Medically Unexplained Physical Symptoms

Presented by: Josh Hamilton

Medically unexplained physical symptoms (MUPS) present a unique and often frustrating challenge in primary care. This session equips nurse practitioners with practical tools to recognize, assess, and manage patients whose symptoms persist without clear biomedical explanation. Learn how to approach MUPS with empathy, avoid unnecessary tests and referrals, and shift the focus toward functional improvement and therapeutic alliance. The session will explore the biopsychosocial model, common symptom patterns, and evidence-based strategies including cognitive behavioral approaches, patient education, and collaborative care. Walk away with confidence to navigate uncertainty, reduce clinical frustration, and improve outcomes for this complex patient population.

Clinical Guidelines Update for Migraine Management

Presented by: Laurel Short

In today’s high-pressure healthcare environment, time is critical — and nurse practitioners are key to driving rapid, efficient, life-saving care. This dynamic session explores actionable strategies to streamline clinical workflows, reduce avoidable admissions, and improve patient outcomes across care settings. Learn how to identify red flags early, implement fast-track treatment protocols, and leverage decision-support tools to reduce delays and optimize resource use. Real-world examples will highlight how NPs can lead efforts that save minutes at the bedside, preserve valuable hospital capacity, and ultimately save lives. Leave empowered with tools to lead change, increase efficiency, and deliver high-impact care when it matters most.

Unleash the Power of Nutrition for Systemic Health

Presented by: Ellen Karlin

Discover how targeted nutrition can be a powerful tool in preventing and managing chronic disease in this high-impact session for nurse practitioners. Unleash the Power of Nutrition for Systemic Health explores the latest evidence linking dietary patterns to inflammation, metabolic function, cardiovascular risk, gut health, and more. Learn how to integrate practical nutrition counseling into everyday practice, empower patients to make sustainable changes, and identify when to refer to a registered dietitian. Real-world case examples will demonstrate how food can function as medicine across diverse populations and conditions. Leave equipped to deliver whole-person care that starts at the cellular level.

The Power in the Pause: Helping Women Thrive Through Perimenopause and Menopause

Presented by: Laurel Short

This empowering session explores how nurse practitioners can guide women through the physical, emotional, and hormonal changes of perimenopause and menopause with confidence and compassion. The Power in the Pause provides evidence-based strategies to manage common symptoms such as hot flashes, mood shifts, sleep disturbances, and sexual health concerns. Learn how to individualize hormone and non-hormone therapies, address long-term health risks, and support women in making informed, confident choices about their care. With a focus on whole-person wellness, this session will help you reframe menopause not as an ending — but as a powerful new beginning for your patients’ health and vitality.

90% Mental; The Other Half, A "Physical" — The Pre-Participation Evaluation

Presented by: Michael Sharma

The Pre-Participation Evaluation Blending insight with impact, this session takes a fresh look at the pre-participation physical exam (PPE) — a critical touchpoint for assessing the whole athlete. 90% Mental; The Other Half, A "Physical" explores the evolving role of the nurse practitioner in identifying not only physical readiness but also mental health risks, cardiovascular concerns, and musculoskeletal vulnerabilities in active individuals. Learn how to perform thorough, guideline-based evaluations while screening for red flags such as eating disorders, anxiety, and overtraining. With case-based learning and practical tools, you’ll walk away ready to deliver high-quality, holistic PPEs that support both performance and well-being.

Precision Lifestyle Medicine: N-of-1 Approaches

Presented by: Julia Rogers

Unlock the potential of personalized care in this forward-thinking session on Precision Lifestyle Medicine, where one-size-fits-all is replaced with N-of-1 strategies tailored to each patient. Nurse practitioners will learn how to integrate individualized data — genetics, biomarkers, wearable tech, and behavioral patterns—into custom lifestyle interventions that optimize health outcomes. From targeted nutrition and exercise plans to stress management and sleep optimization, this session explores how to translate precision tools into real-world clinical practice. Case studies will illustrate how N-of-1 approaches can drive better adherence, engagement, and long-term success. Walk away equipped to deliver truly personalized, data-driven care that transforms lives.