An exploration of the experiences of rheumatology nurses counselling patients on methotrexate therapy

Educating patients prior to starting Disease Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs (DMARDs) for inflammatory arthritis is a central role of rheumatology specialist and monitoring nurses (RCN, 2009). In most rheumatology units, once the decision is made by a clinician to commence Methotrexate, the patient is then referred to a rheumatology nurse to receive counselling regarding the commencement of treatment (RCN 2009). Patients need to understand how to take the drug and what side effects to look out for in order to take it effectively and safely and improve concordance (Hill et al, 2009).