The Push to Find Answers | Osteoarthritis
For many patients with an autoimmune disease, including myself, finding the right answers to our issues is all about “the journey.” My journey began in […]
2018 ACR Recap
A recap of 2018 ACR from RNS Board Member, Eileen J Lydon, MA, RN, ANP-BC. Some sessions from the 2018 ACR included discussions of the workforce […]
Making Deviations to the Normal Treatment Pattern | Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
When a patient is newly diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), there are specific treatment guidelines that are typically followed. This includes the initiation of one […]
All Hail the Negotiator | Seronegative Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
I first met JY 2 weeks ago. A 35-year-old, tall, lanky male with a 2-year history of seronegative rheumatoid arthritis (RA), JY initially presented to […]
Tapping Into Our “Spidey Sense”
Recently, I had a casual conversation with some nurse practitioner friends about an older adolescent I saw in clinic, and how my gut told me […]
The Impact of Everyday Life on Drug Adherence… And How You Can Help | Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
I was diagnosed with my first chronic illness at age 5, so I’ve taken medication daily for basically as long as I can remember. As […]
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 […]
Put Your Rheumatology Specs Away with New Patients
Remember those “x-ray specs” they used to sell in the back of comic books? You’d send in your entire allowance, and in just 6-8 weeks, […]
The Nervousness of the New Patient
As an adult rheumatology nurse with nearly 15 years in the field, I have a certain comfort level when educating patients who have been newly […]
RNS Awarded Accreditation with Distinction
The RNS is pleased to announce that the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation recently reviewed our application for re-accreditation as a provider of […]
Riding the Roller Coaster of a New Diagnosis
Many years ago, in the pre-biologics era, a diagnosis of antibody-positive rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in children was rather tragic, often foretelling a future of significant […]
The Power of the Team | Lupus
Lupus is a chronic disease that requires long-term care, which can pose a significant challenge to the patient and health care team.
There is Rheum for You
The RNS is engaging in the issue of the rheumatology workforce shortage through effective initiatives focused on education, recruitment, the retaining of registered nurses (RNs) […]
The Intersection of Lupus and End-Stage Renal Disease | Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)
It’s a question that I have considered from time to time in my nursing career—in a patient with severe systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who also […]
Never Forget About the Heart | Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)
I still vividly remember the day we received the news that WS had passed away at the age of 32.
The Value of Collaboration in a Small Practice
Pediatric rheumatology not only requires close attention to detail when it comes to direct patient care but also effective collaboration with a variety of other […]
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 […]
What to Do with a Patient Who Won’t Listen | Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)
HL was 19 years old when she was transferred from a pediatric rheumatology practice into our adult practice.
Putting the Puzzle Pieces Together | Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE).
New patient referrals are always exciting (at least to me). It’s like putting a jigsaw puzzle together.
Just Say No | Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE).
Hopefully, you are familiar with the patient Bill of Rights that was drafted by the federal government’s Advisory Commission on Consumer Protection and Quality in […]
What I Wish My Rheumatology Team Had Told Me Before I Got Pregnant | Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
When I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) at the age of 25, one of my first concerns was how it would impact my ability […]
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.
What to Expect When You’re a New Parent With RA | Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
Being a new parent is never easy, but it can be especially challenging for patients with a chronic disease such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Here […]
The Pitfalls of Fragmented Care | Pediatric Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)
TK was an 8-year-old female who presented to our pediatric rheumatology clinic about a year ago with a positive antinuclear antibody (ANA) test result (1:320), […]
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…”