The Evolving Role of the Multiple Sclerosis Nurse Across the Disease Trajectory: A Contemporary Discussion Paper

Sharon Edwards

doi:10.2478/ajon-2026-0017

.blurhash-client-img { display: none !important; }

The Evolving Role of the Multiple Sclerosis Nurse Across the Disease Trajectory: A Contemporary Discussion Paper

Australasian Journal of Neuroscience

Volume 36 (2026): Issue 2 (September 2026)

By: Sharon Edwards

Open Access

|Sep 2026

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, neurodegenerative disease associated with a wide range of complex symptoms. These affect physical, mental, and social functioning. MS nurses have a vital role in patient management, and are often the first point of contact for people living with MS. Yet the MS nurse workforce in Australia is declining, negatively impacting patient health outcomes. This discussion paper examines the multifaceted role of the MS nurse across the disease trajectory. Literature was identified through searches of Scopus and EBSCO databases (CINAHL Complete; Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition; MEDLINE; and MEDLINE Complete). Forward citation chaining and reference list review supplemented these searches. Searches were limited to English-language, peer-reviewed, full-text literature published between 2020 and 2026, using the search string and Boolean operator 'multiple sclerosis' AND 'nurse'. Five key domains of MS nursing practice were identified: education, monitoring, symptom management, advice and referrals, and support and advocacy. Patients' needs change over time, and MS nurses provide individualised input throughout each patient's disease trajectory to improve outcomes. MS nurses have an important, multifaceted role across the patient's lifetime with MS, positively impacting health outcomes and quality of life. Increased health sector funding is needed for the MS nurse workforce in Australia, to sustain this complex, holistic role and enable optimal outcomes for people living with MS.

References

Allogmanny, S., Stefoska-Needham, A., & Probst, Y. (2025). Exploring the Perspectives of Healthcare Consumers Towards the Integration of Nutrition in Routine Multiple Sclerosis Care: A Qualitative Study. Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, 38(2), e70042. https://doi.org/10.1111/jhn.70042
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Artola, M., Hernando, A., Vidal, O., Vidal, N., Cuenca, E., Horno, R., Robles, M. Á., Oriol, C., Peralta, S., Solana, M. A. J., Rubio, M., Montero, C., Lleixà, M., Zabay, C., Martin, M., Leon, I., Molinos, C., Matamoros, M., Mercadé, L., Fornali, O., Montero, L., Saiz, A., & Solà-Valls, N. (2023). The Role of Specialist Nurses in Detecting Spasticity and Related Symptoms in Multiple Sclerosis. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 32(13–14), 3496–3503. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.16421
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Burke, T., & Patching, J. (2021a). Conductors of Care: Exploring the Role of the Multiple Sclerosis Nurse in Australasia, Phase 2. British Journal of Neuroscience Nursing, 17(Sup3), S42–S49. https://doi.org/10.12968/bjnn.2021.17.Sup3.S42
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Burke, T., & Patching, J. (2021b). Conductors of Care: Exploring the Role of the Multiple Sclerosis Nurse in Australasia, Phase 1. British Journal of Neuroscience Nursing, 17(Sup1), S42–S47. https://doi.org/10.12968/bjnn.2021.17.Sup1.S42
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Butzkueven, H., Arkelsten, S., Comi, G., Costello, K., Devlin, M., Drulovic, J., Gray, E., Haartsen, J., Helme, A., Hlavácová, J., Kasilingam, E., Liu, Y., Mathew, T., Reyes, S., de Sèze, J., Williams, M. J. & Giovannoni, G. (2025). Brain Health – Time Matters: Multiple Sclerosis, Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder (NMOSD), Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein Antibody-Associated Disease (MOGAD) and Related Conditions. 2024 report. Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders, 101, 106456. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msard.2025.106456
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Campbell, J. A., Henson, G. J., van der Mei, I., & Taylor, B. (2025). Multiple Sclerosis Prevalence and Health Economic Impact in Australia 2025. Retrieved Jul 21, 2026, from https://www.msaustralia.org.au/wp-content/uploads/ms-prevalence-and-health-economic-impact-in-australia-2025_web.pdf
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Del Río-Muñoz, B., Azanza-Munarriz, C., Becerril-Ríos, N., Goicochea-Briceño, H., Horno, R., Lendínez-Mesa, A., Sánchez-Franco, C., Sarmiento, M., Bueno-Gil, G., & Medrano, N. (2022). Preferences Toward Attributes of Disease-Modifying Therapies: The Role of Nurses in Multiple Sclerosis Care. Journal of Neuroscience Nursing, 54(5), 220–225. https://doi.org/10.1097/JNN.0000000000000661
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Fragkoudi, A., Rumbold, A. R., & Grzeskowiak, L. E. (2023). Family Planning and Multiple Sclerosis: A Qualitative Study of Patient Experiences to Understand Information Needs and Promote Informed Decision-Making. Patient Education and Counseling, 110, 107673. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2023.107673
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Fragkoudi, A., Rumbold, A. R., Burke, T., & Grzeskowiak, L. E. (2024). “A Qualitative Study of Multiple Sclerosis Specialists’ Experiences and Perspectives in Managing Family Planning in People with Multiple Sclerosis”. Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders, 82, 105409. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msard.2023.105409
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Grech, L. B., Hunter, A., das Nair, R., Borland, R., & Marck, C. H. (2021a). Improving Smoking Cessation Support for People with Multiple Sclerosis: A Qualitative Analysis of Clinicians’ Views and Current Practice. Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders, 56, 103289. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msard.2021.103289
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Grech, L. B., Haines, S., Marck, C. H., Hester, R., & Butler, E. (2021b). Untreated and Under-Treated Depressive Symptoms in People with Multiple Sclerosis in an Australian Context: A Secondary Analysis. Collegian, 28(1), 42–47. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colegn.2020.02.010
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Harris, C. J., & Halper, J. (2022). Multiple Sclerosis: Best Practices in Nursing Care Disease Management, Comprehensive Care, Pharmacologic Management, Nursing Research. Retrieved May 1, 2026, from https://iomsn.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/BestPractices_052222_SM_V2.pdf
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Hunter, A., Marck, C. H., Butler, E., Allan, M., Edward, K.-L., Giles, A., Kulkarni, J., Rajendran, D., Shaw, S., & Grech, L. B. (2021). Improving the Detection and Treatment of Depression in Australians with Multiple Sclerosis: A Qualitative Analysis. Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders, 56, 103290. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msard.2021.103290
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Lechner-Scott, J., Agland, S., Allan, M., Darby, D., Diamond, K., Merlo, D., & van der Walt, A. (2023). Managing Cognitive Impairment and its Impact in Multiple Sclerosis: An Australian Multidisciplinary Perspective. Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders, 79, 104952. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msard.2023.104952
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Li, V., Barker, N., Curtis, C., Porter, B., Panicker, J. N., Chataway, J., & Pakzad, M. (2020). The Prevention and Management of Hospital Admissions for Urinary Tract Infection in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis. Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders, 45, 102432. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msard.2020.102432
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Marck, C. H., Hunter, A., Butler, E., Allan, M., Edward, K.-L., Giles, A., Kulkarni, J., Rajendran, D., Shaw, S., & Grech, L. B. (2022). Assessment and Treatment of Depression in People with Multiple Sclerosis: A Qualitative Analysis of Specialist Clinicians’ Experiences. Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders, 57, 103362. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msard.2021.103362
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Meehan, M., & Doody, O. (2020). The Role of the Clinical Nurse Specialist Multiple Sclerosis, the Patients’ and Families’ and Carers’ Perspective: An Integrative Review. Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders, 39, 101918. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msard.2019.101918
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
MS Australia. (2022). MS Nurse Care in Australia: Patterns of Access and Impact on Health Outcomes. Retrieved May 1, 2026, from https://www.msaustralia.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/msa_ms-nurses-report-summary_web.pdf
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
MS Australia. (2026). MS Treatments. Retrieved Aug 30, 2026, from https://www.msaustralia.org.au/treatments/
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Özkan, İ., Polat Dunya, C., & Demir, S. (2023). Life Experiences of Patients with Multiple Sclerosis about their Spasticity: A Phenomenological Study. Clinical Nursing Research, 32(1), 49–59. https://doi.org/10.1177/10547738221119346
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Price, E., Lucas, R., & Lane, J. (2021). Experiences of Healthcare for People Living with Multiple Sclerosis and their Healthcare Professionals. Health Expectations, 24(6), 2047–2056. https://doi.org/10.1111/hex.13348
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Schermann, K., Kreyer, C., Pallauf, M., & Deufert, D. (2023). Gender-Specific Nursing Needs of People with Multiple Sclerosis: A Scoping Review. Nordic Journal of Nursing Research, 43(1), 20571585211056764. https://doi.org/10.1177/20571585211056764
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Shipley, J., Beharry, J., Yeh, W., Seery, N., Foong, Y. C., Ayton, D., Siriratnam, P., Tan, T., Beadnall, H., Barton, J., Bridge, F., Wesselingh, R., Taylor, L., Rath, L., Haartsen, J., Gadi, M., Nesbitt, C., Zhong, M., Cushing, V., McKay, F., Morahan, J., Trewin, B. P., Roos, I., Marriott, M., Nguyen, A. L., Downey, E., Crosby, J., Bosco, J., Taylor, J., Giles, L., John, N., Butler, E., van der Walt, A., Butzkueven, H., Blum, S., Simpson, M., Slee, M., Ramanathan, S., Hardy, T., Macdonell, R. A. L., Buzzard, K., Mason, D. F., Lechner-Scott, J., Kilpatrick, T. J., Kalincik, T., Taylor, B. V., Broadley, S. A., Reddel, S., Johnson, D., & Monif, M. (2025a). Consensus Recommendations on Multiple Sclerosis Management in Australia and New Zealand: Part 1. Medical Journal of Australia, 222(7), 356–364. https://doi.org/10.5694/mja2.52578
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Shipley, J., Beharry, J., Yeh, W., Seery, N., Foong, Y. C., Ayton, D., Siriratnam, P., Tan, T., Beadnall, H., Barton, J., Bridge, F., Wesselingh, R., Taylor, L., Rath, L., Haartsen, J., Gadi, M., Nesbitt, C., Zhong, M., Cushing, V., McKay, F., Morahan, J., Trewin, B. P., Roos, I., Marriott, M., Nguyen, A. L., Downey, E., Crosby, J., Bosco, J., Taylor, J., Giles, L., John, N., Butler, E., van der Walt, A., Butzkueven, H., Blum, S., Simpson, M., Slee, M., Ramanathan, S., Hardy, T., Macdonell, R. A. L., Buzzard, K., Mason, D. F., Lechner-Scott, J., Kilpatrick, T. J., Kalincik, T., Taylor, B. V., Broadley, S. A., Reddel, S., Johnson, D., & Monif, M. (2025b). Consensus Recommendations on Multiple Sclerosis Management in Australia and New Zealand: Part 2. Medical Journal of Australia, 222(7), 365–371. https://doi.org/10.5694/mja2.52577
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Smyth, P., Watson, K. E., & Tsuyuki, R. T. (2021). Measuring the Effects of Nurse Practitioner (NP)-Led Care on Depression and Anxiety Levels in People with Multiple Sclerosis: A Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial. Trials, 22(1), 785. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-021-05726-3
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Thornton, K. K., Cockerell, K. L., & Spencer, M. (2024). Understanding Multiple Sclerosis and the Nurse's Role. Nursing Made Incredibly Easy!, 22(1), 5–13. https://doi.org/10.1097/nme.0000000000000025
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
van den Berg, R., Blok, K., Tebayna, N., van Dijk, M., van Rosmalen, J., & de Beukelaar, J. (2024). Reasons Patients with Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Contact their Specialist Nurses. International Journal of MS Care, 26(1), 30–35. https://doi.org/10.7224/1537-2073.2022-056
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Van Hijfte, L., Cambron, M., Crols, R., De La Meilleure, G., Govers, N., Vanopdenbosch, L., Laureys, G., & Willekens, B. (2025). Multiple Sclerosis Nursing to Improve Care and Education (MSNICE): an Observational Study. BMC Nursing, 24(1), 94–99. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-024-02682-6
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Ware-Maloney, E., Wills, O., & Probst, Y. (2025). “I see diet almost as another disease modifying therapy. It’s that important.” A Qualitative Study of Dietitian and Nursing Perspectives on the Role of Diet and Brain Health for Multiple Sclerosis. Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders, 102, 106613–106613. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msard.2025.106613
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Witzig-Brändli, V., Lange, C., Gschwend, S., & Kohler, M. (2022). “I would stress less if I knew that the nurse is taking care of it”: Multiple Sclerosis Inpatients’ and Health Care Professionals’ Views of their Nursing-Experience and Nursing Consultation in Rehabilitation—A Qualitative Study. BMC Nursing, 21(1), 232. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-022-01013-x
Search in Google Scholar Back to article

Articles in this issue

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ajon-2026-0017 | Journal eISSN: 2208-6781 | Journal ISSN: 1032-335X

Journal RSS Feed

Language: English

Page range: 83 - 93

Published on: Sep 21, 2026

Published by: Australasian Neuroscience Nurses Association

In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services

Publication frequency: 2 issues per year

Keywords:

Multiple Sclerosis,

Nurse's Role,

Advanced Practice Nursing,

Continuity of Patient Care,

Workforce

Related subjects:

Medicine,

Basic medical science,

Basic medical science, other

© 2026 Sharon Edwards, published by Australasian Neuroscience Nurses Association
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Volume 36 (2026): Issue 2 (September 2026)