Nurse Practitioner & Physician Assistant Rheumatology Curriculum Outline Released

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A note from ARP President Hazel L. Breland, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA: Some time has passed since the ACR first published its NP/PA Rheumatology Curriculum Outline. Originally developed to serve as a guide for rheumatologists to onboard a nurse practitioner (NP) or physician assistant (PA) into the rheumatology practice setting, the ACR has realized this valuable resource has a broader benefit. Not only does the curriculum address a gap identified by  rheumatologists, but it also serves the interprofessional members of the Association of Rheumatology Professionals (ARP).

The curriculum maps a path to continued professional development as our NPs and PAs graduate or transition from another specialty. In keeping with the curriculum outline, a concerted effort to ensure resources are readily available to meet our collective needs continues to evolve. The curriculum, in addition to wrap-around products, includes the ARP’s newly relaunched Advanced Rheumatology Course (ARC), new Advanced eBytes and an upcoming unique collaboration initiated between the ACR and the American Academy of Physician Assistants, titled The Training Rheum, all of which provides a well-rounded foundation on essential rheumatology topics.

Whether you are a rheumatologist or an NP/PA seeking guidance, we re-introduce the NP/PA Rheumatology Curriculum Outline and encourage you to use the entire product package to meet your needs.

Originally published Oct. 18, 2018

Rheumatology is the first specialty to develop a specialty-specific curriculum for nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs). Now available online, the Rheumatology Curriculum Outline (RCO) is designed as a tool or guide for rheumatologists to use when adding an NP or PA to their practice.

“The NP/PA Rheumatology Curriculum Outline provides a structured and organized approach that can be utilized in adult and pediatric rheumatology, as well as private practice and academic settings, to facilitate the NP/PA’s efficient integration into a rheumatology practice,” says Benjamin J. Smith, PA-C, director of didactic education, School of Physician Assistant Practice, Florida State University, College of Medicine, Tallahassee, Fla.

Mr. Smith was the first co-lead author of a recently published study detailing the impetus for and development of the curriculum.¹ As part of a task force created by the ARHP Executive Committee, he and a group of rheumatologists, NPs and PAs at academic institutions and in private practice were charged with developing the curriculum. The task force worked with and was supported by a number of ACR committees, including the ACR Executive Committee and Board of Directors.