Musculoskeletal diseases are the most common causes of disability in developed countries throughout the world, and in the United Kingdom, a signifi - cant rheumatic disease affects one in seven of the population. They also affect people from all walks of life and of all age groups including babies and the very elderly. Rheumatic diseases are so common that it is inevitable that every nurse will at some time provide care for a rheumatic patient. It is therefore essential that they have some knowledge of rheumatology nursing. Historically this knowledge has been diffi cult to acquire as there is a paucity of textbooks specifi cally about rheumatology nursing,.
