2026-01-05 – Weekly Nurse Practitioner News : Quick tools for milestone checks

Last week in our Nurse Practitioner community, discussions were rich with practical insights and shared experiences. Members exchanged quick psych assessment techniques, debated the merits of skincare practices involving tretinoin, and explored deprescribing strategies in skilled nursing facilities. We also saw lively exchanges on tools for milestone checks and emergency protocols in trauma care. These conversations reflect a commitment to refining our practices and supporting one another in clinical challenges.


This Week’s Hot Topics

What’s your quick psych assessment bundle
The community shared succinct and effective methods for conducting psych assessments. These tips could be invaluable for refining your own process.
Read more here

Slugging with tretinoin — good idea
There’s an engaging debate about the pros and cons of using tretinoin with the popular skincare practice of slugging. If you’re curious about skincare in clinical settings, this thread is worth a look.
Read more here

Deprescribing guides that work in SNFs
Members discussed practical guides and shared personal experiences related to deprescribing medications in skilled nursing facilities, a critical topic for improving patient outcomes.
Read more here

Go-to tools for quick milestone checks
This thread offers a range of tools for efficiently performing milestone checks. It’s a great resource for those looking to streamline their assessments.
Read more here

Pulling MTP early in blunt trauma
The forum explored the implications and timing of initiating massive transfusion protocols in cases of blunt trauma. A must-read for anyone involved in emergency care.
Read more here


That wraps up this week’s digest. Thank you for being an active part of our community. Keep sharing and supporting each other in the vital work you do.

During quick well-child checks, I hand parents the CDC milestone checklist and ask, ‘Show me three new things since last visit’ — it’s like speed-dating for development; if anything flags, I follow with ASQ-3 or SWYC. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones/index.html — anyone got this embedded into Epic flowsheets?

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I hand parents the clinic iPad with the CDC Milestone Tracker (https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones-app.html) and say, ‘Pick the age and tap what you’ve seen,’ while I scan the chart — it’s a 90‑second scavenger hunt. If Wi‑Fi’s cranky, I use a laminated age card with three quick show‑me tasks plus one language cue, then drop a smartphrase to document any variances. Small caveat: the app can overflag, so I confirm with a brief SWYC item before referrals.

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