ABSTRACT
The disease-modifying therapies available for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) differ in their efficacy, safety, and their mode and frequency of administration. Consequently, it has always been important for healthcare providers to understand the differences between the available therapies for MS. Recently, the role of the healthcare provider has become even more complex in light of novel and compelling clinical evidence demonstrating that early treatment of MS can delay long-term disease progression, directly impacting the recent trend toward earlier and more aggressive treatment. Patients are now being diagnosed with MS and treated at an earlier stage of the disease than ever before. As a result, early, accurate diagnosis and treatment have had a large impact on the role of the healthcare provider. This is in part due to the fact that patients are being treated at stages of disease during which symptoms may be very mild and subtle. The role of the nurse, in particular, has expanded not only in providing care and information to MS patients and their families but also in recognizing MS symptoms and assisting in the complicated task of early diagnosis. After early diagnosis, the nurse is then often faced with the complex task of rationalizing to the patient why they should undergo treatment during what is often an asymptomatic time, with the added difficulty of explaining that treatment will likely have manageable side effects. The aim of this review was to discuss the ever-evolving role of the nurse during the treatment of MS, with a focus on expanding the nurse's role in light of recent evidence demonstrating the benefits of early treatment.