Treatment Options for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Course overview

This instructional course has been designed to provide relevant information to healthcare clinicians regarding the current treatment options for Rheumatoid Arthritis. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis may present in any healthcare setting. The nurse may be involved in obtaining a medical history, performing diagnostic procedures, providing patient education, coordinating with other healthcare disciplines, and preparing and administering medications to treat the disease. This course presents information about various types of interventions but concentrates heavily on the use of medications, the mainstay of RA treatment. All clinicians involved in caring for these patients need a working knowledge of the diagnosis for which these medications are given, side effects of the drugs, and appropriate interventions when necessary. This course includes information about intravenously administered medications. State Boards of Nursing have varying positions on the role of the LPN/LVN in the administration of infusion therapy. A link to each state board of nursing is listed on the Pedagogy website. Competency requirements are obtained and maintained through the nurse’s employer, facility, or institution.