Since the first edition was published in 2011, Hollier's Clinical Guidelines in Primary Care has been an essential resource for nurse practitioner practice. For NP students, it complements their curriculum and serves as a vital study resource for certification exams. For experienced NPs, it is a trusted reference that helps them quickly assess and manage common primary care presentations and refresh knowledge on diagnoses that present less often.

Because all content in Hollier's Clinical Guidelines in Primary Care is evidence-based and peer reviewed, NPs who consult it are aligned with current clinical guidelines and standards of practice. Whether seeking the newest guidelines for managing type 2 diabetes or changes in common cancer screening intervals, thousands of NPs turn to this book as a primary guide in their approach to patient care.

This article provides details on the 5th edition of this popular text, which many thousands of NPs consider a staple for their clinical practice. Find out what’s new, how it has been enhanced and improved for readers, and why it’s a smart addition to your bookshelf.

What’s New in the 5th Edition of Hollier’s Clinical Guidelines in Primary Care?

Developing the new edition of such a comprehensive and practical resource requires extensive research, analysis and peer review. Editors, contributing authors and reviewers examined guidelines and standards of practice for hundreds of primary care conditions to incorporate clinical guideline and practice updates that have occurred since the previous edition was published in 2021. Editor Kathy Baldridge, DNP, FNP-BC, FAANP, and chapter editors Betty Vicknair, MSN, APRN, PNP, and Julie S. Gayle, DNP, WHNP-BC, PMHNP-BC, oversaw this work and introduced enhancements that improved the presentation of information in a variety of ways.

Click below to watch a video of Dr. Baldridge discussing some of the most important updates for students.

New diagnoses. The 5th edition introduces 33 new health conditions not covered in prior editions. These include abdominal aortic aneurysm, tinnitus, colon cancer screening, GERD in pediatric patients, thrombocytopenia, chronic daily headache, papilledema, sarcoidosis, female sexual pain, and physical examination of the LGBTQ+ patient.

New guideline callouts. An especially user-friendly enhancement is the identification of clinical guideline changes that have occurred since the 4th edition. To alert readers to these changes, the table of contents and the start of each chapter lists the diagnoses that have new assessment and/or treatment guidelines, as well any new diagnoses added to the chapter.

Alignment with domains. In addition, the headings for all chapters align with the domains of APRN standards of practice: assessment, diagnosis, planning and implementation, and evaluation. This is a helpful feature for students preparing for certification exams, since exam questions are organized along these domains.

Color enhancements. Another new feature in the 5th edition is the use of color throughout the book. The visual cues this provides help readers navigate through the comprehensive material.

New, more specific guidance for faculty and students. The editors wrote new guidance for faculty about how to pair book content with curriculum and updated advice for NP students on how to use the book to help develop clinical competency. New information for students includes strategies for integrating the book when remediating knowledge weaknesses identified in question banks or predictive exams, as well as tips for presenting cases to preceptors. Also in the new edition, preceptors will find valuable insights on how to use the book to enhance clinical practice.

All changes and enhancements grew out of conversations with actual users of the text — students who have used Hollier’s Clinical Guidelines in Primary Care to build knowledge and prepare for exams; faculty who incorporate the book into teaching and/or curriculum; and NPs who consult it in clinical practice.

“Through our many ongoing conversations with users of the book, we learn what features and improvements will make it even more helpful to them,” Dr. Baldridge said. “The enhancements and changes we’ve made in the 5th edition reflect our commitment to delivering the most up-to-date, comprehensive and useful reference for nurse practitioners — one that they can use often and with confidence.”

New title and editor. The 5th edition also introduces an adjustment to the book’s title, to add the last name of the book’s creator and founding editor, Amelie Hollier, DNP, FNP-BC, FAANP, FAAN. Dr. Baldridge, who was a contributing author and peer reviewer for previous editions of the book, served as the new editor.

“I had the privilege of working with, learning from, and being mentored by Dr. Hollier,” said Dr. Baldridge, who is the Lead Nurse Practitioner Education Specialist for APEA. “She was passionate about bringing this book to market because she saw the need for a book that reflects the process NPs follow when we’re learning and when we're taking care of patients. We are holding fast to her vision as we continue to evolve this essential resource — always written by nurse practitioners for nurse practitioners.”

Why Hollier’s Clinical Guidelines in Primary Care Stands Out Among Guideline-Based Books

Hollier's Clinical Guidelines in Primary Care is unique among clinical references for primary care. Unlike many other guideline-focused books, it provides comprehensive information in a succinct manner, eliminating the need for additional resources. Throughout her years of NP practice, Dr. Baldridge has considered it a one-stop reference.

“Many other books are laid out in a SOAP note format, but SOAP notes are more about documentation — not about how you should care for the patient,” she said. “Everything you need for primary care practice is in this book. You don't have to consult other resources, and that makes it really valuable.”

The structure of the book content, organized in the order of the patient visit, is just one of the features that sets it apart from other resources. The lists below illustrate how Hollier’s Clinical Guidelines in Primary Care is distinguished from other guideline-focused books for primary care:

Hollier’s Clinical Guidelines in Primary Care, 5th edition (Baldridge K, Ed.; APEA, 2025)

• 19 chapters: 13 organized by body system, plus chapters on child growth and development, reproductive health, sexually transmitted infections, women’s health, and physical examinations
• Number of diagnoses covered: 393
• Content approach: All elements of patient visit, bulleted format
• Pharmacology tables with prescribing information
• Contributing authors: 48 nurse practitioner authors, 39 nurse practitioner reviewers
• 1,566 pages, soft cover

Collins-Bride & Saxe’s Clinical Guidelines for Advanced Practice Nursing, 4th edition (Joo Y, Gatewood JV, Israel MM, McGrath KW, Neuwirth B, Eds.; Jones & Bartlett Learning, 2025)

• 67 chapters, organized in 7 sections: Pediatric Health Maintenance & Promotion; Common Complex Pediatric Presentations; Common Sexual & Reproductive Health Presentations; Obstetric Health Maintenance & Promotion; Common Obstetric Presentations; Adult Gerontology Health Maintenance & Promotion; Common Complex Adult Gerontology Presentations
• Number of diagnoses covered: Not stated
• Content approach: Lifespan approach reflecting current clinical practice guidelines, presented in discussion format
• Pharmacology tables with prescribing information
• Contributing authors: 69 APRNs, nutritionists, pharmacists, physicians
• 750 pages

Family Practice Guidelines, 6th edition (Cash, JC, Ed.; Springer, 2023)

• 23 chapters organized by body system
• Number of diagnoses covered: >275
• Content approach: Guidelines by body system, presented in discussion format
• Pharmacology tables: No
• Contributing authors: Nurse practitioners
• 1,008 pages

5-Minute Clinical Consult, 33rd edition (Domino F, Ed.; Wolters Kluwer, 2025)

• Organized alphabetically by diagnosis
• Number of diagnoses covered: 500
• Content approach: At a glance
• Pharmacology tables with prescribing information
• Contributing authors: Physicians
• 1,248 pages, hard cover

Current Practice Guidelines in Primary Care, 22nd edition (David JA, Ed.; McGraw Hill, 2025)

• 18 chapters: 15 organized by body system, plus chapters on pediatric screening and development, women’s health, and older adults
• Number of diagnoses covered: Not specified
• Content approach: Summary of each guideline + practice pearls
• No pharmacology tables
• Contributing authors: Physicians
• 608 pages, paperback

Given that Hollier’s Clinical Guidelines in Primary Care is focused as a practical resource for the delivery of primary care by nurse practitioners, FNP and AGPCNP programs and faculty were early adopters of the text.

How to Use Hollier’s Clinical Guidelines in Primary Care in NP Curriculum

Hundreds of NP programs now require or recommend Hollier’s Clinical Guidelines in Primary Care as a textbook or resource for didactic and clinical learning. A common way faculty incorporate the text is by assigning reading and discussions after students complete the three core courses: advanced health assessment, advanced pathophysiology, and advanced pharmacology.

“This book encompasses the essence of the 3Ps applied to specific diagnoses,” Dr. Baldridge said. “It provides information in a way that facilitates clinical reasoning and critical thinking in the practice setting, which reinforces knowledge obtained through didactic learning.”

Here are a few other ways faculty can guide NP students in using the 5th edition:

• to develop clinical competency in the management of patients
• in communication with preceptors, to demonstrate knowledge
• to build the knowledge and understanding necessary for exam success.

“An effective strategy is for faculty to encourage students to focus on the book content related to one or two patients they see in their clinical rotations each day,” Dr. Baldridge said. For example, a student who sees a patient with community-acquired pneumonia and a patient with stage 2 hypertension during a clinical day can solidify their knowledge by reading the book content on these diagnoses later that same day.

In addition to reviewing the narrative and bulleted text for these two conditions, Dr. Baldridge recommends careful review of the pharmacology tables associated with them. The student should consider:

• What characteristics of the drug class make it appropriate for the patient I saw today?
• What is the mechanism of action for the drug class used to treat my patient’s diagnosis?
• What are the FDA-approved indications for the drug class? Are there any accepted off-label uses of this drug class, based on evidence?
• What contraindications and potential side effects are associated with this drug class?

“The book helps students focus on exactly what they need to know about each drug class,” Dr. Baldridge said. “This prepares them to prescribe appropriately and safely.”

How to Use Hollier’s Clinical Guidelines in Primary Care to Prepare for Certification

To be successful on the certification exams for family and adult-gerontology primary care practice, candidates must master the foundational knowledge for entry-level NP practice. Hollier’s Clinical Guidelines in Primary Care is a key resource for exam prep because it reinforces and supplements their didactic education and applies it to actual practice.

One of the most common ways students use the book for exam prep is by turning to it when they need to understand a rationale provided for a study question.

“If you get to the end of a rationale and still wonder why something is correct or incorrect, that indicates a gap in your knowledge base,” Dr. Baldridge said. “The book provides information on whatever diagnosis you need more knowledge in.”

An especially effective strategy is to pair the results of a comprehensive and predictive assessment of exam readiness, such as the Predictor Exam developed by APEA, with the book. The detailed results report provided with an APEA Predictor Exam identifies the domains and diagnoses where a student has weaknesses. By studying the sections of the book associated with those missed questions, students can improve their knowledge and exam readiness.

“If they miss a question on hyperlipidemia and that question is coded as evaluation, then they can go to hyperlipidemia in the book and review the evaluation section,” Dr. Baldridge explained. “Students tell us that they really like this because they don’t have to read an entire chapter. They’re able to go to the appropriate section to find specific information.

Why Practicing NPs Count on Hollier’s Clinical Guidelines in Primary Care

The value and application of Hollier’s Clinical Guidelines in Primary Care continue to grow once an NP begins seeing patients, when it acts as a backstop for many daily decisions about patient care.

“During the first years in practice, you're probably going to reference this book more than you will after 5 or 10 years, because you are still learning. But no matter how long you practice, something will always be new or challenging,” Dr. Baldridge said. “Sometimes a patient walks in with a diagnosis you haven't seen in a while. And you will have the information you need at your fingertips.”

In fact, over the 15+ years that this text has been published, a high percentage of purchases are by repeat buyers who are experienced clinicians. At national conferences and live review courses, these NPs sometimes refer to the book as their “bible” for clinical practice. Dr. Baldridge said she understands the analogy, noting that people apply Bible verses differently over time, depending on their life circumstances.

“Even when you cross a stream in the same place, it's a different stream because the water has been moving and changing — and so have you,” Dr. Baldridge said. “I think that analogy applies to this book as well. You can look at the same chapter 1,001 times, but one day a patient walks in and surprises you. You read the same information you’ve read before, and you find something that is specific to the presentation. It's a nugget that will help you provide the best possible care to that patient.”

Why Hollier’s Clinical Guidelines in Primary Care is a Top Resource for NPs

Hollier’s Clinical Guidelines in Primary Care is unlike other guideline books because it supports NP practice with an evidence-based, concise delivery of information to apply in daily practice. Users describe it an indispensable companion that serves them from foundational 3Ps to hands-on clinical practice.

Feedback and comments from purchasers of the book include:

• “Clinical Guidelines in Primary Care is amazing and worth every penny. I bought it at the beginning of my 2nd of 4 clinical rotations and kicked myself for not purchasing it sooner. I love how it breaks down each diagnosis, making it easy to understand. It has all the latest guidelines in one book and includes all of the screenings according to age group from USPSTF. It was super helpful for my weekly discussion post, writing SOAP notes, and for use in clinicals. I will continue to use this in practice.”

• “I used this book throughout my entire NP program and will continue to carry it with me as I practice. I am grateful for the way the book is laid out, so organized and easy to follow.”

• “I have started my new role as an NP in a rural family practice setting. I utilize my Clinical Guidelines in Primary Care book with almost every patient I see, making me feel very confident that I am providing safe, evidence-based care.”

Nurse practitioners hold a unique and trusted role at the intersection of clinical expertise and compassion. Dr. Baldridge believes that nurse practitioners’ quality patient care is rooted in a patient-centered approach and grounded in evidenced-based practice.

“NPs do not merely treat illness; we manage and support the whole person living with a disease,” Dr. Baldridge said. “The 5th edition of Hollier’s Clinical Guidelines in Primary Care provides up-to-date, research-based recommendations that guide safe and effective diagnosis, treatment and management. The design of the book supports clinical judgment and reasoning for novice as well as seasoned NPs, and it frees up cognitive space to focus more fully on the person behind the illness.”

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