Multiple Sclerosis: Treatment Goals (Nursing)

00:00 Now, treatment goals for MS.

00:03 We've talked about how we would identify, how we would listen to your symptoms, how we would develop a therapeutic relationship with the patient.

00:10 Now, we know that you have MS, so now your job and my job is to help look at the treatment goals for MS.

00:18 See, my role now as a nurse to help you see that you can live with this disease, will help introduce you to support groups and other people that are doing well with managing this disease and leading full lives.

00:30 And I'm going to sit down with you and talk about all these options that you have for living your best life with MS.

00:38 So, our goal is going to be to modify the disease course.

00:41 We want to treat exacerbations and that's a big word that might you have like flare-ups when they really start to have more severe symptoms.

00:47 So, we're going to treat exacerbations.

00:49 We're gonna introduce them to corticosteroids, so the patient knows.

00:52 "Hey, when this happens the healthcare provider will work with them and will get a plan for what medications you're going to take.

01:00 One of those options would be corticosteroids.

01:02 Now, we're going to manage your symptoms.

01:04 If you're having like spasticity or those type of problems, we have options like muscle relaxers." We're also gonna help that patient maintain emotional and mental health.

01:15 Now, what we have here are four really important goals.

01:19 If I was sitting down with a patient, who was newly diagnosed with MS, that's exactly how I would talk to them.

01:27 I would sit down and I would slow down and I would help them understand.

01:33 And even though we can't cure MS, we can sure help them live a very full life.

01:40 So, first step, I'm gonna find out what's most important to that patient.

01:44 What do they want to do? What activities are important to them? What people do they want to be around? And then I'm gonna help them come up with a plan, then I'm gonna walk them through these four areas and say, "Look, we have lots of options.

01:57 We might not be able to cure it, but we can help you modify the course.

02:01 When you do have an exacerbation, we have some medications that will help us control that.

02:06 Call us early.

02:07 We'll work with you to find the best solution.

02:09 We're gonna help you manage the symptoms that you have regularly.

02:12 And we want know that we value your emotional and your mental health just as much as your physical.

02:19 And this is going to be tough.

02:21 So, don't hesitate to tell us when you're feeling down, when you're having a hard time, when it's difficult to cope with.

02:27 We think that as important as the physical symptoms that you're experiencing." See, the patient needs to know that you're on their team, that you're supporting them, and you're gonna help them through this process.

02:39 That's what nurses do.

02:42 Now, treatment, we've already let them know, "Hey, there's no cure for multiple sclerosis, but there is hope." So, our treatment is going to typically focus on speedy recovery from attacks.

02:52 We want them to have fewer attacks and shorter attacks.

02:56 We want to try to slow that progression of the disease and manage their symptoms.

03:01 So, some people have a really mild symptoms and they don't even need treatment.

03:05 Other people have horrifically severe symptoms and it can range all over the map even for the same patient.