Clinical Conversations in MS Care: Nursing Clinical Pearls for Treatment Selection and Individualization

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Clinical Conversations in MS Care: Nursing Clinical Pearls for Treatment Selection and Individualization

Megan R. Weigel, DNP, ARNP-c, MSCN

Release Date: October 16, 2015
Expiration Date: October 15, 2016 (THIS ACTIVITY IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE FOR CREDIT)

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ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION

This educational activity will update nurses and nurse practitioners on traditional and emerging therapies in MS and their role in relapse prevention and delaying disease progression. Optimal strategies for treatment selection and individualization will be examined, including clinical pearls for assessing outcomes and modifying therapy.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of this educational activity, learners will be able to:

Evaluate the ongoing clinical course of MS patients and strategies for individualized treatment selection and modification to optimize long-term clinical outcomes
Examine the benefits and limitations of established and novel MS therapies in relapse prevention and delaying disease progression

FACULTY

Megan R. Weigel, DNP, ARNP-c, MSCN
Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner
Baptist Neurology, PA
Jacksonville Beach, FL

FACULTY BIOGRAPHY

Megan R. Weigel, DNP, ARNP-c, MSCN, is an Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner who has been practicing neurology for 13 years and has been an MS Certified Nurse for 9 of those years. She currently works at Baptist Neurology, Beaches Division, in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, where she specializes in the care of MS patients. She received her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from the University of Florida in 2009, with a research focus on preventive healthcare in MS patients. Dr Weigel was chosen as one of Jacksonville’s “40 Under 40” by the Jacksonville Business Journal in 2010, and received an Outstanding Young Alumnus award from the University of Florida in 2010. She was recently chosen to be President Elect for the International Organization of Multiple Sclerosis Nurses (IOMSN) and serves on the Editorial Board of the International Journal of MS Care. She is a member of the North Florida chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s Clinical Advisory Committee and acts as their Research Advocate. Dr Weigel is an active speaker across the country, both to patients and healthcare providers on topics related to the care of people living with MS, and is the Co-Founder of oMS Yoga, a yoga program for people living with MS.

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST STATEMENT

According to the disclosure policies of NPA and the IOMSN, all faculty, planning committee members, editors, managers, and other individuals who are in a position to control content are required to disclose any relevant relationships with any commercial interests related to this activity. The existence of these interests or relationships is not viewed as implying bias or decreasing the value of the presentation. All educational materials are reviewed for fair balance, scientific objectivity, and levels of evidence.

DISCLOSURE STATEMENTS

ACTIVITY FACULTY

Megan R. Weigel, DNP, ARNP-c, MSCN
Speakers Bureau: Acorda Therapeutics, Inc; Biogen Idec; EMD Serono, Inc; Genzyme Corporation; Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals; Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation; Pfizer Inc; Teva Pharmaceuticals
Consultant: Genzyme Corporation; Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals

NURSE PLANNER/REVIEWER

Nurse Practitioner Alternatives (NPA)
Laurie Scudder, DNP, NP, has served as nurse planner for this activity and has disclosed no relevant financial relationships.

EDUCATIONAL PLANNING COMMITTEE

International Organization of Multiple Sclerosis Nurses (IOMSN)
June Halper, MSN, APN-C, FAAN, MSCN
Consultant: Biogen Idec (non-CME research project)

Spire Learning
Christine Kocienda
Shareholder (spouse/partner): Johnson & Johnson; Procter & Gamble

Kashemi Rorie, PhD
Nothing to disclose with regard to commercial support

TARGET AUDIENCE

Nurses and nurse practitioners with an interest in the management of MS

ACCREDITATION

Nurses: This educational activity is co-provided by Nurse Practitioner Alternatives (NPA), the International Organization of Multiple Sclerosis Nurses (IOMSN), and Spire Learning.

NPA is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

NPA designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 0.5 contact hours of continuing education for nurses and nurse practitioners.

METHOD OF PARTICIPATION

There is no fee for participating and receiving CE credit for this enduring activity, which should take approximately 30 minutes to complete. If you wish to receive full credit for participating in this activity, you must view the online activity and complete the online evaluation with a 70% passing score on the posttest. We cannot award credit unless all steps are completed.

This educational activity is co-provided by Nurse Practitioner Alternatives (NPA), the International Organization of Multiple Sclerosis Nurses (IOMSN), and Spire Learning.

This activity is supported by independent, unrestricted educational grants from Genzyme Corporation, Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals, and Teva Pharmaceuticals.

This activity was developed by the IOMSN as a resource for MS nurses. IOMSN has developed the content with consideration for validity, fair balance, and accuracy and is proud to endorse the activity with its logo.

OFF-LABEL STATEMENT

This educational activity contains discussion of published and/or investigational uses of agents that are not indicated by the FDA. The opinions expressed in the educational activity are those of the faculty. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications, and warnings. Further, participants should appraise the information presented critically and are encouraged to consult appropriate resources for any product or device mentioned in this activity.

USE OF BRAND NAMES

This educational activity includes the use of brand names to minimize any confusion associated with similar agents with various formulations.

LEVELS OF EVIDENCE

Levels of evidence are provided for any clinical recommendations made during this activity.

Level A (randomized controlled trial/meta-analysis):

High-quality, randomized controlled trial (RCT) that considers all important outcomes. High-quality meta-analysis (quantitative systematic review) using comprehensive search strategies

Level B (other evidence):

A well-designed, nonrandomized clinical trial. A nonquantitative systematic review with appropriate search strategies and well-substantiated conclusions. Includes lower-quality RCTs, clinical cohort studies and case-controlled studies with nonbiased selection of study participants and consistent findings. Other evidence, such as high-quality, historical, uncontrolled studies, or well-designed epidemiologic studies with compelling findings, is also included

Level C (consensus/expert opinion):

Consensus viewpoint or expert opinion Each rating is applied to a single reference in the activity, not the entire body of evidence on the topic.

GENERAL DISCLOSURE AND COPYRIGHT STATEMENT

The opinions expressed in this educational activity are those of the faculty, and do not represent those of the NPA, IOMSN, or Spire Learning. This activity is intended as a supplement to existing knowledge, published information, and practice guidelines. Learners should critically appraise the information presented, and draw conclusions only after careful consideration of all available scientific information.

Copyright 2015 Spire Learning. All rights reserved. No part of this activity may be reproduced or transmitted in any other form or by any means electronic or mechanical without first obtaining written permission from Spire Learning, IOMSN, or NPA.

Spire Learning, IOMSN, and NPA reserve the right to cancel or modify the activity content, faculty, and activities as necessary.

References for Clinical Conversations in MS Care: Nursing Clinical Pearls for Treatment Selection and Individualization

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