2026-01-19 – Weekly Nurse Practitioner News : Pinwheel vs. stethoscope debate

Last week, the community engaged in rich discussions on improving mental health assessments and shared experiences with educational tools for patient care. Many shared insights on easing the transition for parents in the NICU and explored the complex topic of deprescribing in skilled nursing facilities. The forum also saw lively exchanges on practical treatment rituals and the efficacy of certain dermatologic practices.


This Week’s Hot Topics

Streamlining psych assessments in clinic
There’s a lively discussion on how to make psychological assessments more efficient and accurate in clinical settings. This is crucial as it directly impacts patient care and outcomes.
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Favorite tools for seizure and migraine education
Members are sharing their go-to resources for educating patients about seizures and migraines. It’s an exchange of practical tools that can enhance patient understanding and management.
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NICU parent class bloopers
This thread offers a light-hearted look at the unexpected moments during NICU parent classes. It’s a reminder of the human side of healthcare education.
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When the pinwheel outperforms my stethoscope
An engaging conversation about unconventional tools in patient assessment, highlighting the importance of creativity and adaptability in practice.
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Looking for chronic care templates that work
Colleagues are discussing effective templates for managing chronic care, aiming to streamline processes and improve patient follow-up.
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Helping parents feel ready sooner in NICU
This topic delves into strategies for better preparing NICU parents, focusing on emotional readiness and practical knowledge.
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Deprescribing guides that work in SNFs
A critical discussion on effective deprescribing practices in skilled nursing facilities, aiming to reduce medication overload and enhance patient safety.
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Slugging with tretinoin — good idea
There’s a debate on the merits of combining slugging with tretinoin, exploring dermatological benefits versus potential risks.
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CE ideas for noninvasive pain care
This thread is a treasure trove of continuing education ideas focused on noninvasive pain management techniques, an area of growing interest.
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Small rituals that help on treatment days
Members are sharing the small, personal rituals that make treatment days more manageable for patients, highlighting the importance of holistic care.
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Thank you for being an active part of our community. Your contributions and discussions continue to support and elevate the practice for each of us.

On deprescribing in SNFs, I’ve had good luck starting with a “nighttime meds audit” — flag anything sedating after 8 pm, get family consent, and do a 48-hour check-in; our falls dipped quickly. For the pinwheel vs stethoscope crowd, I use a pinwheel breathing game to settle kiddos, then the scope for the real data — the scope still pays the rent. @ErinDNP, have you paired this with STOPP/START or do you prefer another screen?

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Quick example: in our NICU we do a 2-minute ‘first-night huddle’ before discharge — one nurse, one parent, and a simple what-if plan on a sticky note — and it noticeably cuts after-hours panic; tiny caveat, it only sticks if you end with ‘what’s one thing you’re worried about tonight?’ so they say the hard stuff out loud. Not as flashy as a pinwheel, but it spins down anxiety — anyone else tried this?

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I’ve had better luck doing a day‑3 med‑pass ride‑along in our SNF and leaning on the deprescribing.org anticholinergic algorithm to consolidate most “HS” meds to 9 pm with pharmacy sign‑off (Deprescribing Guidelines and Algorithms - Deprescribing.org). It cuts 2 a.m. wake‑ups and sundowning for us, but I leave insulin and diuretics alone on the first pass. Anyone syncing MAR changes with PT/OT schedules?

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