Stefanie Remson MSN, APRN, FNP-BC FACULTY SPOTLIGHT
What is the most overlooked sign of RA you have seen in clinical practice?
Fitzgerald Health Education Associates
Fatigue. Fatigue is often overlooked by clinicians because it’s subjective, multifactorial, and doesn’t fit neatly into the traditional biomedical model of RA. It's not directly asked about or measured at regular office visits, and, outside of lifestyle modifications and sleep aids, there are not many direct medical treatment options for it. Unfortunately, for many patients, it’s often the symptom that most erodes their daily functioning and sense of well-being.
Ms. Stefanie Remson is a family-certified nurse practitioner who graduated from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas’ Family Nurse Practitioner Program. She has worked in critical care/pulmonary, primary care, urgent care, and infectious disease. She also plays a very active role in the rheumatology community, where she is CEO of rheumatoidarthritiscoach.com, an online educational organization providing resources to people living with rheumatoid arthritis.
Stefanie Remson
Healing with Empathy
What can NP students do during their education to better understand RA?
Fitzgerald Health Education Associates
Fitzgerald faculty member Stefanie Remson, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC, sits down with Fitzgerald for a candid discussion on the ways her rheumatoid arthritis (RA) diagnosis has helped transform her clinical philosophies.
Listen to your patients. Engage in online platforms and support groups, too. This patient population truly understands their disease, treatment plans, and options. The American College of Rheumatology has this great resource on rheumatic diseases, too.
Stefanie Remson
What is one thing you wish fellow medical professionals understood about RA?
How does your personal experience living with RA help you to provide quality care to RA patients?
Fitzgerald Health Education Associates
Fitzgerald Health Education Associates
One thing I wish fellow medical professionals truly understood about RA is how invisible its impact often is. On the outside, patients may look “fine,” but they are navigating constant pain, fatigue, and emotional strain. Recognizing this hidden burden—and validating their experiences—can make a huge difference in building trust, providing effective care, and supporting their quality of life.
Living with rheumatoid arthritis myself gives me a firsthand understanding of the physical and emotional challenges patients face daily, from unpredictable pain and fatigue to the frustration of navigating treatments. It allows me to empathize deeply and listen more meaningfully to my patients’ concerns. I can anticipate the impact of flares on their daily lives and offer practical, realistic strategies for effective symptom management. This personal experience strengthens my ability to provide compassionate, patient-centered care and to advocate effectively for their needs. I strongly believe, in a crazy way, that getting diagnosed with RA made me a better medical provider all around. In 2022, CreakyJoints thought so, too!
Stefanie Remson
Want to learn more from Stefanie?
What is the most promising research/data you have seen (recently) for potential RA cures/treatment modalities?
Fitzgerald Health Education Associates
Check out the Grand Rounds for the FNP and AGPCNP: Infectious Disease Roundup course, available now.
Neuroimmune modulation! Among the most promising developments is neuroimmune modulation, particularly through vagal nerve stimulation. A 2024 study presented at the ACR Convergence conference demonstrated that this approach effectively reduced inflammation and improved symptoms in RA patients who had not responded adequately to conventional therapies.
Stefanie Remson
Stefanie Remson
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