Hello everyone,

My name is Catherine Rasmussen AKA Cathy. I live in Wichita, Kansas where I work full time at a local clinic in the rheumatology infusion department. I have been in health care for 27 years, the last 18 years as a RN. I have worked in, float pool, general medical surgical, endoscopy, dialysis, infusion, research and as an office nurse for asthma/allergy and renal.  Prior to earning my RN degree, I did various jobs starting as a patient escort, a unit secretary, EKG tech, rehab tech, and respiratory therapist.

Research plays an important role in the rheumatology infusion department. The medications given has all been through the research process of determining a problem, providing a theory for that problem, and developing a model to study the theory. The medications used in the rheumatology infusion center are all biologics. Each one has gone been approved by the FDA for use. To achieve approval research is mandatory to prove the product is safe and does what it is designed to do. As the study is underway, predicted and adverse reactions need to be meticulously documented and analyzed. The rheumatology infusion department sees the results of studies from the drug reps that provide information supporting the use of a specific biologic for a specific disease process. The information gained from research allows the rheumatology infusion nursing staff to develop policy and procedures to ensure best patient care, education, and outcomes. I look forward to meeting all of you; may each of you have a fantastic semester!