Year-Long Nurse Mentorship Program To Address Evolving Needs In Care And Management Of Rheumatic Diseases

Main Category: Bones / Orthopaedics
Also Included In: Nursing / Midwifery
Article Date: 21 Jan 2008 - 4:00 PDT

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The Rheumatology Nurses Society (RNS) working in collaboration with The Institute for Johns Hopkins Nursing (IJHN), the Infusion Nurses Society (INS) and Gullapalli & Associates, LLC (G&A), has developed the Rheumatology Nurse Mentorship Program, a year-long, interactive educational initiative that seeks to reinforce the role of rheumatology nurses to improve patient care and outcomes.

Treatment of rheumatic disease has shifted from crisis intervention and maintenance to prevention, symptom management, and wellness. Rheumatology nurses have emerged as pivotal members of the multidisciplinary team, assessing the needs of patients and families, and providing counseling, teaching, coordination of multidisciplinary care, and case management. The Rheumatology Workforce Study published in February 2007 highlights the growing shortage of rheumatology professionals skilled in these emerging roles.

To respond to these challenges, this year-long, accredited educational initiative matches expert rheumatology nurse mentors with nurse apprentices to provide ongoing education in person and online. The curriculum concentrates on the pathophysiology of rheumatic diseases, the importance of early treatment, rehabilitation, defining relapse, therapeutic options, and collaboration with multiple disciplines. A newsletter and toolkit will be available for all interested participants via web archives.

"To offer the best care possible in the demanding and complex world of rheumatology, the rheumatology nurse must obtain a more sophisticated skill set and higher level of knowledge," states Therese Dexter, RN, BSN, President of the RNS. "An educational initiative such as the mentorship program addresses the ongoing demand for skilled rheumatology nurses and improves patient care by providing relevant and necessary education and resources." The mentorship program is an initial step toward the development of a "Certified Rheumatology Nurse" program, the first of its kind to be offered in the U.S.

Stephen Chavez, Senior Vice President, Educational Development at G&A said, "We believe that a key driver for effective medical education is a collaborative framework, where each partner imparts their core competencies. The collaboration between the RNS, the INS, and IJHN and G&A exemplifies this principle. The mentorship initiative will permit participants to effectively translate knowledge and comprehension into better patient care and outcomes in the area of rheumatic disease."

About the Rheumatology Nurses Society

The Rheumatology Nurses Society (RNS) is a professional organization committed to empowering nurses through professional development and education to benefit its members, patients, family, and community.

About The Institute for Johns Hopkins Nursing

The Institute for Johns Hopkins Nursing (IJHN) designs and delivers cutting-edge continuing education for nurses where the demands of the nursing practice arena require nurses to assume new roles for which their formal education has not prepared them.

About the Infusion Nurses Society

The Infusion Nursing Society (INS) is committed to bringing innovative new resources and opportunities to a wide range of healthcare professionals who are involved with the specialty practice of infusion therapy.

About Gullapalli & Associates

Gullapalli & Associates (G&A) is a consulting firm specializing in facilitating strategic collaboration between key stakeholders in the medical education community.

Gullapalli & Associates