[Clinical role for the professional nurse in rheumatology]

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the activity of the Nurses Clinic in the Rheumatology Unit of the San Juan de Alicante Hospital, Spain.

Methods: After reaching a consensus, the nurses' functions were defined using a pre-defined scale (supported by medical objectives) and codes were assigned to perform future metrics. Afterwards, three roles were assigned to the rheumatology nurse practitioner: 1. Procedures (nursing techniques); 2. Educational Health Related Services; and 3. Osteoporosis Nursery Clinic.

Results: Measurement of the rheumatology nurse activity during 2006: Assignment 1, 1592 procedures; Assignment 2, 2604 services; Assignment 3, 331 visits (95 first visits y 236 revisions).

Conclusions: These metrics support the fact that the activity shown in the Nurses' Clinic is enough to justify a full-time professional and the importance of designating their own specific planning and personal space in the Unit. The structure and roles in our Nurses' Clinic could be a role model to other Rheumatology Departments.