‘We have had to adapt’: Rheumatology nurses adopt new roles confronting barriers to care
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The role of the rheumatology nurse has shifted rapidly over the past few years, as nurses have had to adapt to seemingly ever-increasing barriers to care, as well as looming burnout and workforce shortages.
According to Carrie Beach, BSN, RN-BC, president of the Rheumatology Nurses Society, nurses within the specialty have seen their duties expand to include everything from guiding frustrated patients through prior authorization and referrals processes to advocacy.
“We have had to adapt and take on additional responsibilities in order to help patients navigate all of these frustrating processes while remaining a key player in the management of their disease,” she said.
In recognition of National Nurses Month in May, Healio sat down with Beach to discuss some of the unique challenges faced by nurses in the specialty, how RNS can impact the daily lives of rheumatology nurses throughout the country, and what rheumatologists can do to work with their nursing staff more effectively.
Healio: What are currently the biggest issues or challenges facing nurses in rheumatology?
Beach: Unfortunately, burnout and staffing shortages continue to plague all areas of nursing. In rheumatology specifically, there are increased challenges when it comes to patient access to affordable treatment options. Insurance approvals and prior authorizations are not only frustrating for our patients, but often create extra work for our nurses.
Healio: Please discuss some ways individual nurses can mitigate those challenges.
Beach: Proper training and education of rheumatology nurses is vital for retention to alleviate staffing shortages that lead to burnout. Learning the basics of the day-to-day operations and workflow of a practice may not be as overwhelming as the volume of education that is required to understand multiple, complex disease states, as well as the medications to treat these conditions.
It is important for new nurses to set realistic individual expectations. It can often take several months to a year to feel confident and competent in rheumatology. Nurses that are experiencing burnout need to feel comfortable expressing these feelings to peers or members of management so that support can be offered to help combat stressors.
Healio: How about rheumatology nurses as a collective? What can organizations like RNS be doing to help alleviate challenges and provide support?
Beach: RNS has been an amazing resource for support! There are various platforms for education, opportunities for networking with our chapters, quarterly publications and, of course, our annual conference. I think just acknowledging that we are all experiencing similar challenges as rheumatology nurses leads to more productive discussions on how we can collaborate with other organizations to find solutions, and provide support, to help alleviate these challenges.
Healio: Regarding the role of a rheumatology nurse in 2023, what are the top two or three things you should be doing?
Beach: We need to continue to focus on educating our patients regarding diseases states and medications, as well as fostering trusting relationships with them. However, I feel as though the role of the rheumatology nurse has evolved in recent years. As costs and barriers to care and medications continue to increase, advocacy has become an important role of the rheumatology nurse.
Although many offices have dedicated staff for processes like prior authorizations, referrals, scheduling procedures and patient assistance, the nurse is typically the first person the patient reaches out to for answers.
Healio: What advice would you have for a young nurse hoping to grow into the rheumatology field?
Beach: Be patient — there is so much to learn. It will seem overwhelming but there are resources to help ease that burden. I know I am biased, but I think rheumatology is one of the most rewarding nursing specialties — you really do get the chance to make an impact on your patients' lives. Rheumatology is a constantly evolving field so there is always something new to learn.
Healio: Please speak to the rheumatologists in our readership and offer a few thoughts on how they can work best with their nursing staff.
Beach: First and foremost, providers should treat their nurses as an integral part of the health care team. Allowing nurses to practice at the top of their scope shows that they are respected and trusted in their role.
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