title: The activity of rheumatology nurses in Spain.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Describe and analyze nursing activity in rheumatology.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was performed in Spanish rheumatology departments. Results were based on surveys administered to rheumatology nurses. We included variables on socio-demographics, the setting and available resources, and the activities they carried out. Each activity was compared in terms of workplace, available resources and dedication exclusively to one field.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-seven surveys were collected from 57 hospitals in 17 Spanish autonomous communities. 97% of the nurses were women, with an average age of 48.9 years and an average nursing experience of 6 years. 56% of the professionals had gained their experience in outpatient clinics, 35% in day hospitals and 9% in inpatient and primary care. As for the availability of resources, 59% had their own office, 77.3% had a phone listing and 60% scheduled and conducted patient visits. Of the 19 activities included, those performed by the highest number of nurses were managing, monitoring and coordinating the use of biological drugs (90.9%), therapy monitoring (89.4%) and training patients in self-medication (89.4%). The activity in which nurses most frequently collaborated with physicians was the administration of local injections (51.5%). Other activities were teaching (50%) and research (78.8%) in their departments and studies in the nursing field (51.5%). Work in outpatient clinics versus day hospitals showed statistically significant differences for health education, nutrition, splinting and bandaging, and collaboration in ultrasound studies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These professionals performed a greater number of activities when they worked in outpatient clinics, had their own office and worked exclusively in rheumatology.
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Reumatología, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, España. Electronic address: sfernandez@santpau.cat.
authors.forename: Susana P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Fernández Sánchez
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Reumatología, Hospital Mutua de Terrassa, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rusiñol Badals
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Reumatología, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Padró Blanch
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina Interna y Urgencias, Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Paytubí Garí
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Reumatología, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Laiz Alonso
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Reumatología, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, España; Servicio de Reumatología, Hospital Platón, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Moragues Pastor
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006748:Hospital Departments / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D057184:Practice Patterns, Nurses' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012219:Rheumatology / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013030:Spain; D013041:Specialties, Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: Enfermera de reumatología; Funciones enfermería; Nursing activities; Reumatología; Rheumatology; Rheumatology nurse