June Halper, MSN, APN-C, MSCN, FAAN
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Nurse practitioner, MS Center of the New Jersey Medical School and the
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…on the MS Nurse and certification
“The MS Nurse is a competent expert who collaborates with those affected by MS. He or she shares knowledge, strength, and hope. As the role of nurses continues to evolve, there is a need to establish a cohesive model of MS nursing practice, along with specific standards in MS nursing care.
“Nursing practice aims to both manage and influence the patient’s illness by: supporting disease-modifying treatments; facilitating symptom management; promoting safe, maximal function; and supporting a wellness-oriented quality of life. Activities that are essential to patient care can be grouped into the following areas: establishing care; continuing care; and sustaining care. Together, these interwoven areas provide a framework for a comprehensive and cohesive model for MS nursing practice. These can be applied to the care of all individuals with MS, regardless of disease classification or level of disability.
“This model provides the basis for domains of MS nursing that are included in an exam for certification. Questions fall under the umbrella of clinical care, research, advocacy, and education. This examination is offered in several languages, including English, French, Finnish, Dutch, and Spanish. The MSCN certification is internationally recognized as a sign of commitment to and competence in excellence in MS nursing practice.”
June Halper is a certified adult nurse practitioner specializing in MS since 1978. She founded the MS Center in Teaneck, New Jersey and was the executive director there from 1985 to 2008. She also served as president and is currently the executive director of the International Organization of MS Nurses (IOMSN). Ms. Halper has published and lectured extensively on MS and is a member of several nursing organizations. A founding director of IOMSN, she was the recipient of their first June Halper Award for Excellence in Nursing in Multiple Sclerosis. She was inducted as a Fellow into the American Academy of Nursing in November 1999.