One of my college professors once told me, “Iris, if you listen hard enough, the patient will tell you what is wrong with them.” Apparently, […]
Author Archives: Iris Zink, MSN, ANP-BC, RN-BC
Dealing with the Unique Challenges of the “Have Nots” | Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
In the United States, those of us who work as healthcare providers often struggle with the realities of the “haves” vs. the “have nots.” The […]
Fighting the Good Fight with Insurers | Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
The majority of patients we see on a day-to-day basis in our rheumatology practices require straightforward decisions and straightforward solutions. But there are always outliers. […]
Is Fat Making Our Patient’s RA Worse? | Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
I had a new patient, LO, come to me following a referral from urgent care in March 2017. Her urgent care visit was prompted by […]
Ringing the Bell of Hope for Our Patients | Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
In October 2017, I met JP, a 66-year-old female patient, for the first time. During our initial meeting, JP reported that she had been recently […]
Coming Up with Our Own Recipes | Lupus
Every healthcare provider knows that lupus is the great imposter. One day, it can affect one organ; the next, a whole different system can be […]
A Tale of Two Pregnancies | Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
As rheumatology nurses, we see many patients in what should be the prime years of their lives.
Pulling Back the Curtain on “The Great Imposter” | Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)
“SLE IS LIKE A GREY WOLF LURKING AT THE EDGE OF THE WOODS, WAITING PATIENTLY TO ATTACK AN INDIVIDUAL’S BLOODSTREAM WHEN IT IDENTIFIES AN OPPORTUNITY…”
Staying Attuned to Changing Patient Presentations | Ankylosing Spondylitis
GV is a 28-year-old female social worker who presented to my clinic in January as a new patient. During our initial conversation, she said she […]
Managing Out Colorful Array of Patients
Sometimes as rheumatology nurses, we walk into a room and our heart sinks as we’re faced with a patient who we know is going to […]
The Long and Winding Road of a Young Athlete | Spondyloarthropathy
I recently saw a 17-year-old patient whose case caused a lot of people in our local healthcare community to scratch their heads. NJ is a […]
Learning to Meet Our Patients Where They Are | Rheumatoid Arthritis
As a rheumatology nurse practitioner with 16 years of experience, I have seen a lot of patients with rapidly progressing disease. Unquestionably, after nearly 2 […]
The “What Ifs” That Stay With Us | Rheumatoid Arthritis
Sometimes, we encounter a patient in our practice who touches our life and our soul, and never leaves our heart. One such patient of mine […]
When Lab Tests Tell the Truth | Rheumatoid Arthritis
Biomarkers have been an important addition to the toolbox of rheumatology healthcare providers, which was illustrated in my interactions with G.H., a recent patient of […]
When Lab Tests Lie | Rheumatoid Arthritis
Twelve years ago, I met R.T., a 35-year-old female patient who had previously been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. Her rheumatoid factor was positive at 49. […]
How I Learned About the Immune System | Immunology
When I first started as a rheumatology nurse, I got my hands on anything I could to help me learn about things that would help […]
My Most Memorable Patient
In the winter of 1994, I was working as a young nurse in the respiratory ICU at a hospital in Lansing, MI. Upon my arrival […]