Finally, the ARHP’s rheumatology resources and education have filled a far-too-common gap in nursing education for Ms. Jones. “Most general pediatric nursing conferences, books, journals, etc. provide little information about topics specific to pediatric rheumatology. For 30 years, I’ve filled this gap in education and resources through the ARHP, which has allowed me to further my rheumatology knowledge base.”
As she continues to navigate the unique challenges faced by pediatric rheumatology practitioners—educating the general public on her patients’ diseases and working to address insurance policies that aren’t appropriate for the management of pediatric rheumatic diseases, for example—Ms. Jones continues to turn to the same organization that welcomed her 30 years ago to meet her needs. The “ARHP is for me because it provides multiple, excellent in-person, online and published educational resources specific to pediatric rheumatology,” she concludes. “It also provides the opportunity to network/collaborate with rheumatology colleagues from many disciplines and the opportunity to be involved in a distinctive professional organization that serves my needs well. My involvement in [the] ARHP ultimately results in providing better care to my patients and families.”
Learn more about resources for rheumatology health professionals.
Erin Latimer Meadows is a communications consultant and writer based in Atlanta. She is the principal consultant of Cause Collaboration LLC and works with organizations to help them meet their missions.
Karla Jones’ Top 5
ARHP membership is a unique combination of resources, opportunities and networking with colleagues. Here are Karla Jones’ top five favorite things about being an ARHP nurse practitioner member.
- Practice support—“From online resources to education to coding and billing support, [the] ARHP has numerous resources to support its clinician members.”
- Inclusive—“[The] ARHP reaches out to multiple healthcare disciplines. There are opportunities for everyone.”
- Advocacy—“[The] ARHP focuses on key issues and gives its members opportunities to visit Capitol Hill to discuss these issues and ensure their voices are heard.”
- Leadership development—“[The] ARHP is good about placing members in positions that match their interests and skills.”
- Networking—“In [the] ARHP, you never feel alone. There are other people who do what you do and plenty of opportunities to network with them.”
