Whether you’re recovering from a knee replacement or need in-home care because osteoarthritis has affected your mobility, you will probably be cared for by a nurse at some point in your life. People who have inflammatory conditions such as arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, polymyalgia rheumatica, osteoarthritis and gout may require surgery at some point to repair damage done by the disease. In that case, they would be cared for before, during and after by a nurse, whether it’s assisting the physician with an ankle injury surgery, helping you with wound care in your home following a hip replacement or helping you do back exercises while you recover from a spinal procedure. Nurses may work in hospitals, private practices, schools and homes. There are many different kinds of nurses, from LPNs to RNs to cardiology nurses. If you think you could benefit from working with a local nurse to manage your rheumatological condition, talk to your local rheumatologist about the options that are available to you. Your nurse can work with all of your healthcare providers, including your local rheumatologist, local family physician, athletic therapist, kinesiologist, nutritionist, dermatologist, physiotherapist, orthopedic surgeon or chiropractor.