Today's clinical environments are rife with tools designed to comprehensively account for medical complexity and comorbidities while predicting risk for a host of adverse health-related outcomes. Therefore, it is imperative that advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) understand the structure and function of these tools, their similarities and differences, their limitations, and strategies for appropriate incorporation into practice. This article offers a practical overview for APRNs, emphasizing clinical implications and guidance for aligning assessment tools with the clinical population of interest to improve care delivery, quality, and patient outcomes.

Renamed from nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in 2023, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is highly prevalent globally and has potential for serious sequelae. Some patients with MASLD can be managed and followed in primary care, whereas those with clinically significant fibrosis from metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) should be managed in specialty care. This article reviews the pathophysiology, differential diagnosis, and management of MASLD.

Socialization to the nurse practitioner (NP) role and professional expectations needs to begin early in NP education. The earlier and more frequently students are engaged in developing an NP professional identity, the faster they will adapt to the NP role. Innovative ideas for introducing professionalism concepts at the graduate level are introduced, along with illustrations related to how course assignments support the new AACN Essentials Professionalism domain sub-competencies. New NP students described professionalism using more internal/self-oriented values, such as integrity, respect, compassion, and accountability, which is important for NP educators to recognize.

Globally, the incidence of inflammatory bowel disease increased by 47.5% between 1990 and 2019. Biologic medications are often used in moderate-to-severe cases of inflammatory bowel disease. These medications suppress the immune system, placing individuals at increased risk of infections, vitamin deficiencies, and other adverse outcomes. This 12-week quality improvement project evaluated the use of an electronic dashboard to improve rates of health maintenance activities in patients diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease receiving biologic therapies utilizing a Plan-Do-Study-Act design. Baseline data showed laboratory monitoring at 67%, bone density testing at 46%, tuberculosis screening at 54%, and pneumococcal vaccination at 33%. The rate of influenza vaccination for the previous season was 63%. Postimplementation, increases in rates of all five health maintenance activities were seen, with laboratory monitoring at 96%, bone density testing at 96%, tuberculosis screening at 96%, pneumococcal vaccination at 78%, and influenza vaccination at 78%. The care of patients with inflammatory bowel disease is complex and requires commitment from medical professionals to provide up-to-date care. Electronic dashboards can assist with providing this type of care.

This article explores why many health care providers feel unsure about diagnosing frailty in older adults. By identifying the challenges and offering practical solutions, it highlights how nurse practitioners can improve care and help older adults stay healthier and more independent longer.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a disease of the lungs characterized by irreversible airflow obstruction that has primarily been associated with neutrophilia; however, emerging evidence suggests an eosinophilic component in some patients. Management for COPD has focused on smoking cessation, pollutant avoidance, and inhaled therapy, but unfortunately, these carry therapeutic limitations for some patients. Biologic therapy has been an asthma treatment staple for years; however, it was not found to be beneficial for COPD until recently. In 2025, two biologic therapies were approved for patients with COPD and an eosinophilic phenotype.

In the second half of 2025, the US Food and Drug Administration approved several new drugs that have relevance for those practicing in primary care. This article highlights the following new medications: brensocatib (Brinsupri), elinzanetant (Lynkuet), and zoliflodacin (Nuzolvence). Additionally, this article reviews newly approved indications for existing therapies, including finerenone (Kerendia) for heart failure with a left ventricular ejection fraction of >_ 40% and cyclobenzaprine hydrochloride sublingual tablets (Tonmya) for fibromyalgia.