MS: Your Healthcare Team

An MS nurse is a nurse with advanced training and experience in caring for patients with MS. MS nurses can also be certified as experts by going through an international certification system. Nurses who become certified are then known as MS Certified Nurses (MSCNs).

MS nurses work on a variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, and assisted-living homes. Some nurses will also provide care in the patient's own home. What can an MS nurse do for you? MS nurses can help you in a variety of ways:

Education: An MS nurse can teach you more about the condition, what to expect, how to manage symptoms, and how to use your medications. They can also educate your family and friends so that they will be better able to assist you. MS nurses are often involved in education programs in the community. As well, they provide expert advice on MS to other health professionals.

Symptom management: When it comes to managing difficult symptoms, and MS nurse can be a lifesaver. They can provide practical, easy-to-follow tips on how to manage bladder and bowel problems, spasticity, pain, mobility issues, and fatigue. They can also teach you special skills such as bladder training, self-catheterization, how to give yourself medication injections, and overcoming injection anxiety.

Support and outreach: In addition to their clinical knowledge, MS nurses are a valuable source of support. They can provide you and your family with emotional support and direct you to other professionals (such as physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, homecare workers, sex therapists, or social workers) and services (such as support groups, transit services, respite care, or medical equipment providers) in the community that can help.

Research and advocacy: MS nurses are often involved in clinical research studies to improve the quality of MS care. They may also be involved in advocacy programs that promote better understanding and management of MS.