How to become a Parkinson's nurse
Learn more about the role of a Parkinson’s nurse and how you can grow your career and specialise.
What does a Parkinson's nurse do?
Parkinson’s nurses are a lifeline for people with Parkinson’s and their families. They support people with their diagnosis, help manage medication and symptoms, and make referrals to other professionals.
They're also essential for improving care for people with Parkinson's. Their expertise allows them to empower people to better manage their condition, champion patient needs, and educate other health professionals. This results in fewer hospital admissions, improved patient safety, and better patient experience.
Why become a Parkinson's nurse?
Specialising in Parkinson’s can be an incredibly rewarding career. Parkinson's is a complex condition that gets worse over time. As a Parkinson's nurse, you'll become an important part of your patients' and their families' lives. You'll be there for every step of their Parkinson's journey.
It's also a great way to develop your career. All Parkinson's nurses are band 6 and above, and you'll gain specialist skills and expertise.
There are lots of other reasons why you may choose to specialise in Parkinson's. Being a Parkinson's nurse may appeal to you if you:
- prefer to work independently and make your own decisions
- prefer to work Monday to Friday, with no unsocial hours
- want to make services better for people with Parkinson’s
- want to upskill other professionals
- are looking to progress in your career
- are interested in getting involved in research
- are interested in further study to gain new skills and expertise.
"In a lot of nursing, it's task-oriented. You do one thing, then you leave. But in this role, you're supporting the whole family. You develop relationships and you're with them for a long time."
Tracey Smith, Co-Clinical Nursing Lead
What skills do I need?
- Parkinson's expertise:
A deep understanding of Parkinson's, its progression, symptoms (both motor and non-motor), and treatment options.
- Assessment and referral:
Ability to assess patients, identify their needs, and make appropriate referrals to other specialists or services.
- Medication management:
Knowledge of medications used in Parkinson's management, including administration, side effects, and interactions.
- Complex decision making:
Experience in making sound clinical judgments in complex situations, especially those involving fluctuating symptoms and medication adjustments.
- Risk assessment:
Ability to assess and manage risks associated with Parkinson's, such as falls, swallowing difficulties, and cognitive changes.
- Palliative care knowledge:
Understanding of palliative care principles and the ability to provide supportive care to patients with advanced Parkinson's.
- Excellent communication:
Strong verbal and written communication skills are essential for interacting with patients, families, and other healthcare professionals.
- Empathy and sensitivity:
The ability to provide compassionate and supportive care to individuals and families dealing with the challenges of Parkinson's.
- Teaching and education:
Strong teaching and presentation skills to educate patients, families, and other healthcare professionals about Parkinson's and its management.
- Active listening:
The ability to actively listen to patients and families to understand their concerns and needs.
- Relationship building:
The ability to establish strong, trusting relationships with patients and their families.
- Time management and organisation:
Ability to manage a caseload effectively, prioritise tasks, and meet deadlines.
- Teamwork:
Ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team, collaborating with doctors, therapists, and other healthcare professionals.
- Leadership:
Ability to take initiative, lead discussions, and provide guidance to other healthcare professionals.
- Problem solving:
Ability to identify problems, analyse situations, and develop solutions.
- Professional development:
A commitment to ongoing learning and professional development to stay up-to-date with the latest research and best practices.
- Resilience:
The ability to cope with the emotional demands of working with people with Parkinson's and their families.
Start your journey
Whether you're ready to become a Parkinson's nurse or want to learn more about the condition, you can make a real difference to the lives of people living with Parkinson’s by growing your skills and knowledge in the condition.
Join your regional network to connect with other health and care professionals passionate about Parkinson’s, including Parkinson's nurses.
How to find Parkinson's nurse jobs
Individual NHS trusts and health boards will advertise any Parkinson's nurse vacancies they have on their job vacancy pages. You can also check internal bulletins, hospital, and trust websites.
You can check the following NHS job sites for Parkinson's nurse roles in your country:
- NHS jobs (England and Wales)
- NHS Wales jobs
- NHS Scotland jobs
- Health and social care jobs Northern Ireland
Parkinson's nurses are employed by the NHS, not by us. But we do pump-prime roles to help boost the number of Parkinson's nurses across the UK.
How we can support you
From webinars and case studies to guides and dashboards, we have a range of resources to support your practice.
We curate a list of upcoming events and conferences for professionals, so you can improve your knowledge of Parkinson's.
Our educational bursaries support health and care professionals and students to take part in education and conference activities.
Stay up to date
Sign up to our Excellence Network newsletter to keep up to date with the latest developments and opportunities in Parkinson’s care.