Royal College of Nursing Representing nurses and nursing, promoting excellence in practice, shaping health policies

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Our work 

How we represent forum members

  • Promoting best practice in rheumatology
  • Leading the development of rheumatology nursing practice
  • Promoting the nature, scope and value of rheumatology nursing
  • Educating nurses and health care professionals and improving the quality of compassionate patient care
  • Influencing changes in rheumatology that will benefit both patients and nurses

Our strategy

  • Representing all members of the Rheumatology Nursing Forum.
  • Attending key events in order to ensure that the voice of the rheumatology nurse is heard.
  • Working with relevant stakeholders and organisations.
  • Developing key resources which demonstrate best practice.

Rheumatology Forum Annual Reports

Recent activity

Administering Subcutaneous Methotrexate for Inflammatory Arthritis (October 2021)

This guidance provides the background information regarding subcutaneous methotrexate as an educational resource for practitioners, with particular reference to safety and best practice; and incorporates new sections on treat-to-target and medication optimisation. Whilst the guidance has been developed for rheumatology practitioners, some aspects may also be of value to health care colleagues working in other specialties including dermatology, gastroenterology and ophthalmology. See: Administering Subcutaneous Methotrexate for Inflammatory Arthritis

Rheumatology Nurse Specialist Competency Framework

This publication provides a competency and role development framework for rheumatology practitioners in clinical practice (most commonly called rheumatology nurse specialists). A suite of evaluation documents have also been produced, to be used in conjunction with the framework as guidance, and include advice on the assessment process and on providing evidence.

Leading, collaborating, influencing

The RCN and its forums are invited to participate in many cross working and multidisciplinary workstreams. Below are a selection of some of the activities that members of the Rheumatology Nursing Forum are involved in on your behalf.

Consultations

The RCN is the voice of nursing, and is invited to contribute to many consultations. These are some of the recent consultations that the Rheumatology Nursing Forum has been involved in.

Gout: diagnosis and management. Expected publication date: June 2022

Osteoarthritis: care and management (update). Expected publication date: August 2022

Get involved

Find out more about how to get involved in developing NICE and SIGN guidance

Page last updated - 19/04/2024