title: Long-term management of patients with multiple sclerosis.
abstract: This article explores the challenges of long-term case management for patients who have multiple sclerosis (MS). Currently there is scant research into district nursing input into long-term management of patients who have MS. Until now the role of the community nurses has been confined to palliation or terminal care, focusing on the more physical manifestations of MS. The contemporary role of district nurse is going to evolve to include proactive approaches. Governmental initiatives demand proactive services, and place emphasis on self-care for patients with MS. Themes that emerge from this article relate to the pre-existing skills--such as managing patients with complex needs and the advanced assessment skills--that will be required to achieve this. What is clear is that community nurses already possess many of the prerequisite skills needed for long-term management, and they should not be daunted by this prospect.
authors.affiliation: Adult Nursing Studies, University of Wales, Bangor. c.weightman@bangor.ac.uk
authors.forename: Cherie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Weightman
mesh_terms: D019090:Case Management / Q000458:organization & administration*; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003152:Community Health Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019468:Disease Management; D006291:Health Policy; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D009718:Nurse Administrators / Q000458:organization & administration; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D009745:Nursing, Supervisory / Q000458:organization & administration; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011637:Public Health Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012648:Self Care; D013222:State Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration; D006113:United Kingdom