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New Certification for Nurses With Specialization in Rheumatology May Help Fill Treatment Gaps
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A new certification for nurses who specialize in rheumatology has been developed by a credentialing board and a society of nurses to fulfill unmet needs in rheumatologic care.
The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and the Rheumatology Nurses Society (RNS) have launched a new certification program that will be available for nurses involved with rheumatology in an effort to increase professionalism and address unmet needs in the treatment of patients with rheumatic diseases, according to Sheree C. Carter, PhD, RN, immediate past-president of the RNS.
“We feel that rheumatology nurses are leaders and educators in our fields, and this is not a subject that is taught in school,” Carter told Healio.com/Rheumatology. “We hold ourselves to a higher level of professionalism and help fulfill that gap in care and educating our patients.”
Carter said the addition of certified rheumatology nurses to a practice also could help facilitate clinical trials conducted in rheumatology clinics. The certification program was developed after extensive research, according to Carter.
“We spent a full year of making sure we had everything that we needed in this particular portfolio and reflected what a rheum nurse does,” Carter said. The certification process is awarded through a portfolio rather than a written test.
“A paper test can be out of date the moment it is completed,” Carter said, who added that the type of work performed by a rheumatology nurse at an infusion clinic, for example, may vary greatly from a rheumatology nurse who works at a rehabilitation clinic, retirement home or private practice.
Kevi n D. Lyons, executive director of RNS, told Healio.com/Rheumatology the organizations also have coordinated with dermatologists and gastroenterologists to increase the educational level regarding biologic medications with indications across the specialties. Lyons said a survey among nurses across the specialties showed a recognition of methotrexate as a treatment for certain diseases, but an increased need for education in biologic medications among some nursing professionals. He noted the RNS is developing an educational series to address those needs.
Carter said she hopes an increase in certified rheumatology nurses will result in shorter appointment wait times, better patient education and adherence, reduced physician burdens and higher overall satisfaction with care among patients and providers. – by Shirley Pulawski
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