Background: The Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Nursing National Guidelines promotes preventative health strategies as a focal responsibility of nursing. Multiple Sclerosis is the most common disabling disease of of young adulthood leading to unemployment. For persons with mutliple sclerosis (PwMS) exercising and maintaining function is a challenging health issue due to progressive disabling symptoms and complicating comorbidities. Lack of regular physical activity is likely to have a direct and costly effect on patients’ accumulative disability and the cost of rehabilitation. Foreground: The role of a nurse practitioner (NP) is multifaceted, as an expert collaborator of the inter-professional team caring for PwMS, and is a critical facilitator in the MS referral process. Nurse Practitioners are involved in disease, symptom, relapse, and rehabilitation management consistent with the Advanced Practice Nursing Model in MS. Studies have showed that NPs have the expert skill set of interpreting evidence-based practice (EBP) and translating it into clinical practice to improve patient outcomes. Methods: To maintain functional capabilities with the accumulation of disease is challenging, requiring an effective interdisciplinary healthcare team to provide strategies focusing on patient-centered care. This project was to evaluate NP referral practices in the fitness-promotion process to the Personal Trainer Fitness Program (PTFP) presented in a PowerPoint presentation (PPP) as an exercise fitness modality of supervised strength, resistance and endurance training. EBP Framework: The Academic Center for Evidence Based Practice Model (ACE) was used, in conjunction with Lewin’s change theory, as guiding frameworks for this project. The PICOT format identifies the project. The Stakeholders Include: NPs who care for PwMS, DNP student, personal trainer, physical therapist and PwMS who benefit by NP referrals. This project assessed the impact of the evidence-based knowledge on the NP decision-making process, as it pertains to increasing awareness and referring patients to a new exercise modality focusing on supervised strength, resistance and endurance fitness, as well as wellness. Findings/Results: Survey responses were 77, 46, and 30 consecutively. The results showed that NPs were confident in referring the PwMS to a fitness modality such as the PTFP. Ninety-three percent of the respondents who viewed the PPP would consider moderating their decision-making process to incorporate this exercise modality into their clinical practice. In cross-tabulation of the data, the NP respondents were well informed of the benefits of a PTFP and confident in making referrals for fitness. Referring to a PTFP was already incorporated into their referral practice in exercise promotion, as diagnosing and treating are within their scope of practice. The BSN respondents gained a greater awareness in considering referrals to a PTFP. Conclusions/Recommendations: The referral process appears to be related to awareness, knowledge base and scope of practice, which highlights the importance of incorporating evidence-based education into graduate and undergraduate levels of nursing.
