Neurology Nurse and RN Traveler Shares Inspirational MS Story

Since working as a travel nurse, Stephanie has gone on to pursue a Nurse Practitioner license, promoting MS awareness every step of the way.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is thought to affect over 2.3 million people worldwide. Fortunately, there are exciting advances in unlocking clues to MS’s environmental and genetic components, and this is imperative to us all. It’s been said that everyone is connected to MS somehow; that they have met or will meet someone battling the disease. For American Traveler, that connection comes from past RN Traveler, Stephanie B., Neurology RN.

Since working several Neuro ICU travel nursing jobs, Stephanie has gone on to pursue licensure as a Nurse Practitioner, promoting MS awareness every step of the way. Stephanie was diagnosed with MS three years ago, and has since lobbied for patient rights before Congress, been a guest on TV, launched excellent online tools for RNs and patients alike, as well as given a Ted Talk: "Thriving in the Face of Adversity"

In her interview with American Traveler, Stephanie shares her thoughts on patient advocacy, and how her fellow nurses can join in, on a global cause for raising MS awareness:

American Traveler: Stephanie, it’s great to catch up with you. Your recruiter suggested, and everyone agrees, that we should publish an informative blog series, based on your work for raising awareness about MS. What do you think of this idea?

Stephanie: Love it! It’s important that practitioners in all nursing specialties learn as much as they can about MS. RNs in skilled nursing facilities, home health and rehab centers see MS up close every day.

American Traveler: What do you want to say to those nurses?

Stephanie: That I understand, being an RN myself, how easy it is to use your first MS patient as a template for understanding and treating all future cases. It’s how we establish continuity of care, and it isn’t a bad thing; however, I think RNs provide the best care when they see every MS patient as unique, because MS looks different on every patient.

American Traveler: Tell us more about that; for instance clinical trials that are promising to MS patients, and advocacy for patients with auto immune disease.

Stephanie: I’m participating in three clinical trials right now: two of them study MS’s impact on vision and hearing, but it’s the third one that has made the most positive impact on me so far: a study that looks at the effects of exercise on my disease. I’m meeting with a personal trainer/physical therapist regularly. I love that this is part of the clinical trial. As far as my legislative work, this entails an annual trip to Capitol Hill. There is an MS advocate for every state in the U.S. and we help pass bills, like having Medicare cover the cost of motorized wheelchairs for patients, not just with MS but Parkinson’s and ALS disease. We also work toward increasing government funding for studying autoimmune disorders, and got the CDC to establish state registries, tracking and studying cases of MS nationwide.

American Traveler: Wow! And now, because we know it will resonate with our readers, please share the best ways to promote MS awareness.

Stephanie: Make donations to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and share articles like this one whenever you get the chance. You can also join me on social media and on my website: www.justkeepsmyelin.com

American Traveler: Thank you Stephanie! That means a lot and we look forward to touching base with you again!