It’s extremely important to have a good relationship with our dermatology colleagues, especially when dealing with patients with possible psoriatic arthritis (PsA). As most of […]
Education
When Treatment Guidelines Meet Clinical Practice | Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA)
There are a number of treatment guidelines/recommendations available in nearly every disease state that are based on high-quality clinical evidence. These guidelines typically take many […]
Cheering On Our Patients’ Successes | Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA)
Treating patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) can be challenging when they fail to respond or lose their response to a specific therapy. Although we are […]
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 […]
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.
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), […]