Parkinson's Disease Nurse

Job overview

The successful Applicant will work in a multi professional way to improve access to Parkinson's disease patients and strive to meet the criteria in relevant guidelines for evidence based practice.

Main duties of the job

This is a specialist community based service for PD service users by working closely with consultant employed by WUTH who provides clinical leadership, GP’s, therapists ,pharmacists, patients ,carers, social services and other stakeholders across primary and secondary care to maintain health/quality of life of people with Parkinson disease. By providing a multi disciplinary approach/ collaborative approach , community care led by the Parkinson Disease (PD) Nurse specialist aims to provide crisis prevention, stabilising conditions and preventing unnecessary Emergency department attendance and hospital admissions and decreasing length of stay in hospital. PD nurse provides a NICE guidance compliant service , providing education and training to the wider multi disciplinary team in best practice management of PD. PD nurse is a nurse prescriber and can also advise patients and health professional, such as GP’s, on adjusting of medications

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

A member of the multi-disciplinary team who provides education, advice and support in the nursing management of Parkinson’s disease patients both in hospital and community settings. Advise patients, carers and other professionals of best practice. 1.2 Within agreed protocols the Parkinson’s Disease Nurse will identify the nursing needs of patients referred into the Parkinson’s Disease Service, referring to other agencies and professionals as appropriate. 1.3 Within an agreed framework the Parkinson’s Disease Nurse will provide a holistic assessment of the needs of referred patients and their carers. Advise and support patients and carers around specific aspects of their care, for example disease progression, drug efficacy and side effects etc. on an individual basis and also within a formal setting of patient/carer groups. 1.4 Will deputise for the Parkinson’s Disease Nurse Specialist when required. 1.5 Work with the audit facilitator to collect and collate information that will shape service delivery and evaluate it on an ongoing basis. 1.6 Participate and support research projects that have relevance to the Parkinson’s Disease Project. 1.7 Provide educational opportunities for colleagues and other professionals to disseminate evidence based practice. 1.8 Recommend or prescribe medication in relation to Parkinson’s disease and symptoms. 1.9 Support in the development of protocols or policies