Welcome to MS Nurse Professional

Please listen to/read this short introduction before you begin this CME-accredited training curriculum on Multiple Sclerosis (MS) for some tips and assistance to help you get the best from this website.

What is MS Nurse Professional?

MS Nurse Professional is a European-focused, e-learning training curriculum for nurses beginning their career in the field of MS. It is led by the European Multiple Sclerosis Platform (EMSP) in collaboration with the International Organisation of Multiple Sclerosis Nurses (IOMSN) and Rehabilitation in MS (RIMS). Collectively, this group is known as the Multiple Sclerosis-Nurse Empowering EDucation (MS-NEED).

The training curriculum has been developed to support you in developing the right knowledge and skill to be an MS Nurse. It also sets out an agreed set of core standards that will promote consistency of practice and nursing care across the whole of Europe and bring equal benefits to those people across Europe who live with MS. It supports the recommendations put forward in the recently published MS Nurse Consensus document entitled “Moving Towards the Pan-European Unification and Recognition of MS Nurses”. This defining statement will drive forward the recognition of the contribution of MS Nursing in Europe, unify the MS Nurse population and raise the profile and validity of the role as a specialty.

By successfully completing the MS Nurse Professional programme, you will gain a solid foundation in all areas of MS nursing care, and will be able to progress along the information/learning pathway that leads to the status of a recognised MS Nurse.

What are the different components of MS Nurse Professional?

MS Nurse Professional is authored by leading experts in the field of MS (see the “Committee” button for further information about these experts), and provides five comprehensive, interactive modules. Each module focuses on a different aspect of MS and together they form the core, foundation level, training curriculum.

Each module is made up of a series of subtopics with fully referenced text and click-on features providing additional in-depth information. Look out for the words or phrases highlighted in bold and with a double underline – when you click on these, supplementary information is provided in a separate pop-up box. Icons will help you navigate your way through the module; icons which are pale pink in colour are interactive icons – click on these icons for extra information. There are also illustrations, graphics and video clips to assist your learning experience. You can also check your progress by answering the “Check your learning” interactive questions that are included at various points throughout each module. The responses to these questions do not count towards your final score for each module; they are simply to allow you the opportunity to assess how you are doing. Finally, there are reflective learning points for you to complete; these will help you to think about what you have just learnt and how you might apply this information in your day-to-day clinical practice. To access your responses to these reflective questions please go to the “My Action Plan” button on the homepage.

The modules are supplemented with additional elements that bring the information to life by applying it to your clinical situations These include nursing tips focusing on the personal experiences of leading MS Nurses and clinical cases which apply the content that has been covered throughout the modules to real-world clinical scenarios that the MS nurse might encounter during daily clinical practice. Nursing tips are identified with a pale pink nurses’ hat icon – click on the icon for tips relating to different issues you might encounter in your day-to-day practice.

Introducing our Modules

Module 1
Understanding MS

Module 4
Treatment

Module 2
Clinical Presentation

Module 5
Care and Support

Module 3
Diagnosis and Assessment

How do I complete the training curriculum and obtain my education credits?

You must first register your details on the website before you can begin the training curriculum. Please click on the “Register” button and follow the instructions to complete the registration process. You will be required to insert the invitation code provided to you. If you have not been provided with an invitation code, please select the box to indicate this, and then follow the instructions. On completion and submission of the registration form, you will be sent an e-mail to confirm your e-mail address, username and password. This will include a link to confirm registration. You will then be directed to your preferred language homepage.

On subsequent visits to the website, you will be prompted to log-in using your username and password, created during the registration process.

All the training will be provided through your browser window. However, should you wish, you can download, save and print out any pages of the training modules. This will enable you to file information and if you include your reflective learning you can really start to build your personal portfolio of evidence. You can also revisit the training material at any time, even after you have completed the course. There is a ‘pause and return’ function so, if you wish, you can return to the same place that you last exited the website.

We recommend the modules are taken in sequence, However, modules can be taken in any order and each module may be paused and resumed at any stage.

At the end of each module, you are required to take an online test for which you will need to obtain a pass mark of 75% or more in order to be eligible for the certificate of credit. Each accreditation test must be completed in one sitting and therefore the pause and resume function is not available at this point. Upon successful completion of all five post-tests you will be provided with a statement of credit which you can download, save and print. You can choose to receive your credits from the International Council of Nurses (ICN) or the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), who are accrediting this training curriculum. Should your score be <75% then you will be allowed two attempts to achieve the pass mark for each module test – should you fail both attempts, there will be a period of time that you are unable to retake the test – this will allowtime for further study of the module.

What else can I find on MS Nurse Professional?

There is a glossary of the more commonly used terms in MS and a list of resources which we hope you will find useful in providing you with further information about MS.

So, now you’re ready to start your learning experience with MS Nurse Professional. We hope you enjoy navigating your way around the website. If you have any questions please use the “Contact Us” button on the homepage.