Hooked on Rheum with Carrie Beach, BSN, RN-BC
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My path to rheumatology was certainly not one that I had planned on, or even dreamed about, during nursing school.
In fact, when I interviewed for my job at Columbus Arthritis Center (CAC), I admittedly had no idea what rheumatology was or what the practice involved. Rheumatology nurses will be the first to tell you that there is very little education in nursing school pertaining to this specialty. I can remember one lecture on osteoarthritis and the very basics of immunology, but nothing that would have prepared, or even enticed, me to make rheumatology nursing my career.
After graduating from Ohio State University and passing my nursing boards, I started, as most new grads do, working in a hospital on a general medicine floor. My dream job then was to work in labor and delivery, and I knew I had to spend at least 1 year working on the general medicine floor before I could transfer.
I made it 4 months before I realized that hospital nursing was just not for me. I guess I had this grandiose idea of being able to spend time with patients and really have the opportunity to feel like I was making an impact — when in reality, it felt more like running a marathon to get all of the boxes checked and medications passed before the end of my shift. I was lacking a sense of feeling connected to patients, which is what I craved as a nurse.
I’ll be honest: I was pretty desperate to find something — anything — else at that point. I was also working nights at the time and mentally I was ready for some sort of “normal” schedule. I had interviewed for two positions — one with a pediatric practice and the other at CAC.
When I interviewed at CAC, I remember meeting the rheumatologist who I would be working with directly and she shared with me the reason she had decided to go into rheumatology. She explained that what had drawn her in was the fact that she saw her patients get better and that rheumatoid arthritis was no longer a diagnosis that meant you ended up in a wheelchair. It was her passion that made it a no-brainer for me to accept the position and start my career as a rheumatology nurse.
The first few months were certainly not easy, as I had to learn everything I could about rheumatology without any experience with these diagnoses or treatments. A few years into my career, I was fortunate enough to find the Rheumatology Nurses Society, which has not only become my go-to resource for nursing education but has also led me to build a network of amazing RNs, APPs and rheumatologists, who have enabled me to further my career and empower me to be the best provider for my patients.
My RNS peers have also given me a sense of community and have helped me to realize that what we do has a significant impact on our patients’ lives — and nearly 20 years later, I am incredibly proud to be a rheumatology nurse.
Carrie Beach , BSN, RN-BC
President
Rheumatology Nurses Society
Staff Rheumatology Nurse
Columbus Arthritis Center
Columbus, Ohio