MedED @ The Allergy Clinic
Allergic Rhinitis in Clinical Practice: When Seasonal Turns Perennial - A Guide for Nurses
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Short course
Short, self-paced online learning modules
1 hour
Study time
Online
Mode of learning
Course overview
This practical and clinically focused course, Allergic Rhinitis in Clinical Practice: When Seasonal Turns Perennial – A Guide for Nurses, is designed for nurse practitioners and primary healthcare nurses managing patients with upper airway symptoms. The course equips participants with the skills to confidently assess, classify, and manage allergic rhinitis using structured clinical questioning, VAS scoring, and evidence-based stepwise therapy aligned with current ARIA recommendations.
Through a blend of concise video lectures or text-based modules, learners will explore diagnosis, severity assessment, pharmacological management (including intranasal corticosteroids, antihistamines, and combination therapy), patient education, referral criteria, and follow-up strategies. Assessment is completed through participation and answering five multiple-choice questions, ensuring practical understanding that can be immediately applied in primary care settings.
Through a blend of concise video lectures or text-based modules, learners will explore diagnosis, severity assessment, pharmacological management (including intranasal corticosteroids, antihistamines, and combination therapy), patient education, referral criteria, and follow-up strategies. Assessment is completed through participation and answering five multiple-choice questions, ensuring practical understanding that can be immediately applied in primary care settings.
Who is this course for?
Nurse practitioners
Required qualification
This course is designed for registered nurses and nurse practitioners in primary healthcare. Participants must hold a recognised nursing qualification and current professional registration.
Course level
Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced.
Develop your professional skills
Why choose this course?
Allergic rhinitis is often misdiagnosed and undertreated:
- This course gives you a clear, practical, ARIA-aligned framework to confidently assess symptoms, use VAS scoring, select the correct therapy, and know exactly when to refer, all within the realities of primary care practice.
- Developed by Dr Marinda McDonald, an experienced allergy clinician and educator. Dr McDonald brings real-world expertise, evidence-based insight, and locally relevant guidance to help you manage allergic rhinitis with clarity and confidence.
- Designed for busy healthcare professionals. Concise video or text modules, practical clinical pearls, and 5 focused MCQs make this a high-impact, time-efficient learning experience you can immediately apply in your consulting room.
About the training initiative
MedEd @ The Allergy Clinic was founded by Dr Marinda McDonald and Natalie Heydenrych, who first met while working at Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital. Dr McDonald dedicated her time pro bono to help establish and run the hospital’s allergy clinic, where the two discovered a shared passion for improving education and clinical practice in allergy and nutrition.
United by this commitment, they created MedEd @ The Allergy Clinic as an academic platform dedicated to delivering high-quality, practical education for healthcare professionals. The institution aims to bridge knowledge gaps, strengthen clinical skills, and support evidence-based practice through structured training, short courses, and collaborative learning opportunities.
Institution contact info
Course Lessons
Course developers & authors
Dr. Marinda McDonald
Founder of the Initiative & Lead Clinical Author
Dr. Marinda McDonald is a medical doctor with a special interest in allergy care. She earned her MBChB from the University of Pretoria in 1998 and later completed a Diploma in Allergies (2004) through the College of Medicine of South Africa and a Certificate in Allergy (2014) from the University of Southampton.
She is the founder of The Allergy Clinic, where she offers a wide range of diagnostic and treatment services, including immunotherapy and food challenges. Dr. McDonald is also the chairperson of the Rhinitis Interest group of the Allergy Society of South Africa, an examiner for the CMSA Diploma in Allergology.
She is the founder of The Allergy Clinic, where she offers a wide range of diagnostic and treatment services, including immunotherapy and food challenges. Dr. McDonald is also the chairperson of the Rhinitis Interest group of the Allergy Society of South Africa, an examiner for the CMSA Diploma in Allergology.
Outside of medicine, she enjoys outdoor activities and values time with her family do. Dr. McDonald is committed to delivering world-class allergy care and advancing the field through collaboration and education.
Natalie Heydenrych
Editor & Content Developer
Natalie is a registered dietitian who obtained her BSc (Dietetics) degree from the University of the Free State in 2008. She has a strong interest in paediatrics and brings 16 years of clinical experience across several government hospitals in South Africa. She began her career with community service at Boitumelo Hospital in Kroonstad, followed by five years at Dora Nginza Hospital in Gqeberha, where her passion for paediatrics first emerged. She then spent the next decade at Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital in Johannesburg, gaining extensive experience in managing children with a wide range of nutritional needs, from common conditions to complex medical cases.
Her special interests include allergies, malnutrition, and feeding difficulties such as gastrostomy feeding. Natalie also completed a Master’s degree focusing on refeeding syndrome in severe acute malnutrition, an area she remains deeply committed to through ongoing clinical, academic, and educational work.
Her special interests include allergies, malnutrition, and feeding difficulties such as gastrostomy feeding. Natalie also completed a Master’s degree focusing on refeeding syndrome in severe acute malnutrition, an area she remains deeply committed to through ongoing clinical, academic, and educational work.
Course developer
Dr. Marinda McDonald is a South African medical doctor with a focused expertise in allergology. She completed her medical degree (MBChB) at the University of Pretoria in 1998 and began her career in general practice following her community service. Her clinical interest in allergic diseases led her to pursue advanced training in allergy, obtaining a Diploma in Allergies from the College of Medicine of South Africa in 2004 and a Certificate in Allergy from the University of Southampton in 2014.
Dr. McDonald is the founder and director of The Allergy Clinic, a dedicated centre offering specialized services such as diagnostic food and drug challenges, immunotherapy for environmental and venom allergens, and oral immunotherapy for food allergies including peanuts, tree nuts, sesame, and fish. The clinic is recognized for its comprehensive and evidence-based approach to allergy management.
In addition to her clinical practice, Dr. McDonald plays an active role in professional development and leadership within the field. She is the elected chairperson of the Rhinitis interst group as well as an EXCO member of Allergy Society of South Africa (ALLSA) and serves as an examiner for the Diploma in Allergology at the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa (CMSA). She is also a member of the advisory board for EUFOREA, a European organization dedicated to respiratory and allergic disease care and education.
Dr. McDonald contributes regularly to public and professional education through media appearances, lectures, and industry events. Her practice is guided by a commitment to clinical excellence, continuous professional development, and the advancement of allergy care through collaboration and innovation.
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