The Role of Nurses in Parkinson’s Care

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive condition that affects both motor and non-motor systems of the brain. It causes muscle rigidity, tremors, slowed movement, and speech difficulties. The symptoms usually start with one hand but can spread to more limbs over time.

According to data on the NIH website, approximately 500,000 Americans have this condition. Some experts also believe that 1 million Americans can have Parkinson’s disease (PD). The disease often occurs after 60 years. However, data shows that some 5% to 10% of patients are diagnosed with PD before 50. Similarly, over 80,000 people are suffering from PD.

It is evident that many people worldwide face this medical problem. Nurses can play a significant role in helping patients with PD. But what is the part of nurses in this situation? This article will look at how nurses can help patients with Parkinson’s disease.

Teaching Patients How to Deal With Parkinson’s Disease

Nurses can teach patients how to deal with Parkinson’s disease. They can educate patients on the importance of self-care, exercise, diet, medication, sleep, and stress management.

Self-care includes:

• Eating balanced meals
• Exercising regularly
• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Not smoking
• Avoiding alcohol or drugs that may worsen symptoms

Exercise helps relieve stiffness and tiredness caused by PD by increasing blood flow to muscles and improving balance and coordination. It also relieves stress contributing to PD symptoms such as fatigue, depression, or anxiety.

Nurses can play a crucial support role

Nurses can describe and show the best exercises and yoga poses for people with PD. A 2018 study shows that if people with PD do yoga twice a week for 8 straight weeks, they can reduce their fall chances by a significant margin. Moreover, 2020 research shows that aerobic exercise can help improve fitness and motor symptoms in PD patients.

However, you must select the proper nurse for the best possible care. Look for nurses with the right qualifications and knowledge to help you. On the other hand, if you are an aspiring nurse looking to help people with PD, ensure you are getting the essential education to do so.

Aspiring professionals can take a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree to start practicing as a nurse and help patients. They can speed up the process by opting for an Accelerated BSN (ABSN) program. An online ABSN program allows them to receive their qualifications in as little as 16 months. Thus, they can get the degree, knowledge, and expertise to help people with PD.

Help Manage Patient’s Medication

Nurses can help patients manage their medication to understand the importance of taking it daily. Nurses can also help them with side effects and how to take their medications properly. Nurses can support patients in understanding how to store their medications and ensuring they know where all of their medications are located in case of an emergency.

Nurses can also help with communication between doctors and patients regarding medication changes or new prescriptions being written. This will ensure that both parties understand what is going on, so there are no errors made in communication between them.

Communicating importance, providing information, and supporting patients with medication are all vital parts of nurses’ daily work. A study published in the BMC Palliative Care journal looked at the role of nurses in patient medication through 76 interviews. The results showed that informing, supporting, representing, and involving the patient are crucial aspects of medication management.

Offer Emotional Support to Patients and Their Families

In addition to providing medical care, nurses can offer emotional support to patients and their families. They are trained in communication skills that can help patients and their loved ones feel more comfortable as they face the challenges of Parkinson’s disease. Nurses can also help patients understand the condition, how it affects their lives, and how they can manage symptoms at home.

Nurses can provide emotional support in many ways, such as:

• Explaining how Parkinson’s disease works
• Discussing treatment options
• Helping people understand what to expect from their condition over time
• Reassuring them about their future quality of life

Studies show that people with PD can feel socially isolated. One such study conducted by the University of Victoria concludes that 55% of the surveyed PD patients felt socially isolated. This isolation can have an adverse impact on the symptoms. Nurses can start conversations, listen to patients, and give them emotional support to prevent isolation feeling.

Nurses Can Help Control Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease

A nurse can play a vital role in helping your patients manage the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. You’ll want to watch for tremors, rigidity, slow movements, and common signs of Parkinson’s. If you notice any of these symptoms in your patient, suggest that they see their doctor as soon as possible, so they can be properly diagnosed and treated.

Medication for Parkinson’s

The most common treatment for Parkinson’s is medication. This helps control shaking, rigidity, and other symptoms so that patients can live more comfortably with their condition. However, because medications have side effects like dizziness or confusion when taken too late at night (which tends to happen), nurses should monitor patients’ medication schedules and remind them when it’s time to take their next dose.

Nurses should also encourage patients not to skip doses altogether—doing so may lead them back into full-blown symptoms without proper control!

Nurses Can Help With Brain Stimulation Activities to Slow Down Progression

Brain stimulation activities can help slow down the progression of Parkinson’s disease. A recent study published in the Neurology journal states that deep brain stimulation activities can reduce the PD medication dosage and offer long-term benefits to motor skills. There are many brain stimulation activities that nurses can help their PD patients with:

• Deep breathing. This exercise helps the brain produce more dopamine and is one of the easiest ways to boost your brain power. It also reduces stress, anxiety, and depression while improving focus and concentration.
• Meditation and yoga. If you can sit still for five minutes without being distracted by thoughts or worries, congratulations—you’ve mastered a form of meditation! The goal of meditation is to become aware of your physical presence in space and how thoughts come into your mind, without letting them take over too much.

Final Words

With these tips, nurses will be able to care for patients with Parkinson’s disease and help them manage their symptoms. Nurses should also have a better understanding of this condition so that they can provide more effective services for those affected by it.