Nutritional Management or Rheumatoid Arthritis: An Important Role for Nurses

Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic, long-term and inflammatory disorder which is autoimmune in nature. In recent years, diet has been identified as an important component in the alleviating RA symptoms and slowing its progress. As a result, proper nutrition has been identified as an effective way of managing rheumatoid arthritis. Nurses are usually in contact with RA patients and thus have an added role in the management of their conditions. It has also been established that like rheumatologist led care in the management of RA, nurse led care for patients with rheumatoid arthritis is an acceptable, safe and effective care model. With the nutrition being confirmed as an important RA remedy, it is important to establish the role of the nurse in the nutritional management of rheumatoid arthritis. Using a literature review methodology that systematically searched major science databases for relevant publications, this study explores literature and provides an over-view of the roles that nurses should have in the nutritional management of rheumatoid arthritis. Several studies were found to highlight the important role of nurses in nutritional management of patients suffering from RA. For example, the identification of patients who would require nutrition intervention and directing them to dieticians. Other roles by nurses include collaboration with other healthcare professionals, disseminating nutritional education and healthcare information to patients and their caregivers about healthy food choices, and acting as nutrition advocates in the management of chronic illnesses including RA.