Clinical Practice Guidelines

Care of the Patient with Multiple Sclerosis

AANN and ARN Clinical Practice Guideline Series

The American Association of Neuroscience Nurses (AANN) has partnered with the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses (ARN) and the International Organization of Multiple Sclerosis Nurses (IOMSN) in the development of this guideline. This is the second guideline to be developed collaboratively between AANN and ARN and promotes evidence-based practice for the adult patient with multiple sclerosis (MS) across the continuum of care.

Nursing care of patients with MS and their families or care partners has evolved from a focus on interventions during periods of crisis to a focus on symptom management, wellness, prevention of disease worsening, and empowerment. The goal of these guidelines is to offer evidence-based recommendations on nursing activities that have the potential to maximize outcomes for adults with MS. Not all recommendations concern activities independently performed by registered nurses, but nurses are responsible for implementing and monitoring the outcomes of these activities. The evidence presented here may help nurses make appropriate choices when caring for patients with MS. Dependent on scope of practice regulations, advanced practice nurses may have independent or collaborative responsibilities for activity performance, thus this guideline may assist them in the management of patients with MS.

Care of the Patient with Multiple Sclerosis (.pdf)

There is no cost to view and download this clinical practice guideline.  2.0 nursing contact hours are available upon successful completion of the post-test and the evaluation.  An additional fee applies for these contact hours for nonmembers.

Purchase post-test

Price:
ARN members: Free
Non-members: $40

Continuing Nursing Education

Purpose
The primary goals of ARN continuing nursing education are to increase awareness of new trends in rehabilitation health care and to support the continued growth of the specialty of rehabilitation nursing and individual nurses.

Objectives
At the completion of this activity, the learner will be able to

1. Describe risk factors for developing, clinical features and the classification of MS.
2. Identify three common problems experienced by patients with (MS) and evidence-based interventions for prevention or treatment.
3. Discuss the classes of commonly used pharmacologic agents for treatment of MS and rationale for use.
4. Identify two resources for patients with MS.

Intended Audience
This independent study offering is appropriate for all rehabilitation nurses.

Continuing Nursing Education Credit
This activity provides 2.0 nursing contact hours upon successful completion of the post-test and the evaluation.

The American Association of Neuroscience Nurses (AANN) is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

This activity is co-provided by the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses (ARN) and the International Organization of Multiple Sclerosis Nurses (IOMSN).

Disclosure
A staff member, volunteer or family member who has an affiliation with a commercial company must declare that relationship in advance of involvement with an education activity that could be used as a forum to promote the interest of that company and its products.

None of the authors or planners has anything to disclose related to this activity.

Commercial Support
This program was supported by an educational grant from Teva Neuroscience.

Expiration Dates
Please note this activity is approved for continuing nursing education for a period of two years, expiring October 31, 2013. Once contact hours are earned, they may be used for certification and/or licensure regardless of the expiration date.