25 Contact Hour Pharmacology CE Bundle for Nurse Practitioners (ANCC)

After completing this 25-hour advanced pharmacology bundle, the learner will be able to:

• Optimise pharmacologic treatment of acute and chronic pain

  • Compare opioid and non-opioid analgesics, adjuvant agents, and multimodal strategies, and select appropriate regimens based on patient-specific factors.

• Prescribe and monitor controlled substances safely

  • Differentiate misuse, abuse, physical dependence, and addiction; apply best practices for prescribing, monitoring, documentation, and use of PDMPs to reduce diversion and patient harm.

• Utilise evidence-based medications for substance use disorders

  • Describe the pharmacology, indications, dosing, and monitoring of medications used to treat opioid and other substance use disorders, including buprenorphine and related agents.

• Apply advanced pharmacology of sedatives, anesthetics, and analgesics

  • Explain mechanisms of action, dosing strategies, adverse effects, and monitoring parameters for common sedatives, general and local anesthetics, and analgesics used in procedural and inpatient settings.

• Select and individualise antibiotic therapy

  • Choose appropriate antimicrobial regimens for complicated urinary tract infections and multidrug-resistant Gram-negative infections, considering spectrum of activity, PK/PD, resistance patterns, and patient comorbidities.

• Manage common endocrine and cardiometabolic conditions pharmacologically

  • Develop and adjust medication plans for thyroid disorders, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidaemia, and obesity in alignment with current clinical guidelines.

• Implement contemporary HIV pharmacotherapy

  • Identify recommended antiretroviral regimens, recognise key drug–drug interactions, and adjust therapy based on resistance, tolerability, and comorbid conditions.

• Use psychopharmacology effectively in primary care

  • Select and monitor pharmacologic treatments for anxiety and related disorders, balancing efficacy, side-effects, and comorbid physical health conditions.

• Prescribe disease-modifying therapy for rheumatoid arthritis

  • Compare conventional and biologic DMARDs and targeted agents, and outline appropriate initiation, monitoring, and safety considerations.

• Manage time-sensitive neurologic emergencies pharmacologically

  • Apply current evidence to the use of thrombolytic and adjunctive agents in acute ischaemic stroke, including inclusion/exclusion criteria, dosing, and monitoring.

• Use neuromuscular blocking agents safely in clinical practice

  • Describe indications, selection, dosing, monitoring, and reversal strategies for neuromuscular blockade, with attention to patient safety and interprofessional coordination.

• Integrate pharmacologic decisions into whole-patient care

  • Incorporate comorbidities, organ function, age, psychosocial factors, and patient preferences into medication selection, titration, and deprescribing decisions.

This on-demand pharmacology bundle brings together high-impact, ANCC-approved courses focused on real-world prescribing challenges across primary care, specialty, and acute-care settings. Designed for nurse practitioners and APRNs, the collection emphasizes evidence-based decision-making, current clinical guidelines, safe prescribing practices, and risk mitigation for high-risk medications.

Across 25 contact hours of advanced pharmacotherapeutics, learners will review first- and second-line treatment options, refine dosing and titration strategies, and apply case-based learning to strengthen confidence in managing complex patient populations.

Included Courses (25 Contact Hours Total)

• An Update on Pain Management Drugs for Prescribers – 2 contact hours

• The Pharmacology of Pain Relievers: Revisiting the Basics – 2 contact hours

• Nursing Pharmacology: Sedatives, Anesthetics, and Analgesics – 2 contact hours

• Controlled Substances and Substance Abuse: Best Practices for the Healthcare Professional – 2 contact hours

• Update to Medications Used to Treat Substance Use Disorders – 3 contact hours

• Essentials in Buprenorphine Prescriptions – 1 contact hour

• The Pharmacologic Art of Managing Anxiety in Primary Care – 1 contact hour

• Pharmacology of Antibiotics: A Refresher Course for Nurses – 2 contact hours

• Antibiotic Treatment for Complicated Urinary Tract Infections – 1 contact hour

• Bad Bugs, ‘New’ Drugs: Updates on Antibiotic Treatment Options for Multidrug-Resistant Gram-Negative Infections – 1 contact hour

• Updates in HIV Pharmacotherapy: It’s the Beginning of a New Era! – 1 contact hour

• Pharmacotherapy of Thyroid Disorders – 1 contact hour

• Update in Pharmacotherapy for Hypertension – 1 contact hour

• Strategies in Diabetes Treatment: Where Are We? – 1 contact hour

• Comprehensive Weight Management: Pharmacology, Diets, and Communication Strategies – 1 contact hour

• From Inflammation to Liberation: Therapies for Rheumatoid Arthritis Relief – 1 contact hour

• A Time and “-plase” for Everything: Updated Management of Acute Ischemic Stroke – 1 contact hour

• To Block or Not to Block: Safe and Effective Use of Neuromuscular Blockade – 1 contact hour

This bundle is designed to support APRNs in meeting the 25-hour pharmacology requirement for national certification renewal (e.g., ANCC, AANPCB, AACN) and may also be applied toward state licensure continuing education requirements where accepted. Learners are encouraged to verify specific requirements with their certification board and state licensing agency.