Title : Parkinson’s disease: Fast facts for nurse educators
Abstract:
The diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease began over 200 years ago with the recognition of motor symptoms of the condition. Today, there is no cure for the disease, only treatment and strategies for management of the symptoms. Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder affecting people around the globe. With an aging population, this number is expected to increase. There is no known test to diagnosis Parkinson’s disease. Often, the diagnosis occurs late in the condition due to lack of recognition of early symptoms. The non-motor symptoms of PD are often first indicators of the onset of the disease. Early recognition and referral to movement disorder services may support the patient with early treatment plans. The physical, social, and emotional impacts of the condition may be experienced by both the patients and their caregivers. This presentation will provide strategies for improvement with early engagement with patients and families for management of Parkinson’s disease. Nurses may be the first healthcare provider to recognize and acknowledge symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Nurses need to be knowledgeable about Parkinson’s disease to address the health concerns associated with this chronic condition. This presentation is provided to fill the gap in the knowledge of nurse educators related to symptom recognition and strategies for management of Parkinson’s disease. The goal is to increase awareness, provide information regarding community resources, and share knowledge with current nursing students in academic settings.
Take Away Notes:
• Verbalize an increased knowledge of Parkinson’s disease (PD)
• Able to identify at least 3 symptoms of PD
• Articulate 2 strategies to manage PD symptoms
• Describe 2 community resources related to care for PD patients and caregivers
• Nurse educator participants will incorporate Parkinson’s disease information into nursing course content
