Part 1: What is Parkinson's and How is it Diagnosed? 

Learning Objectives:

  • Describe idiopathic Parkinson's disease and differential diagnosis
  • Identify health statistics associated with Parkinson's disease
  • Discuss the pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease 
  • Describe how a diagnosis of Parkinson's disease is made
  • Identify motor and non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease across the course of Parkinson's disease 

 .

Part 2: Motor Symptoms and Implications  

Learning Objectives:

  • Describe swallowing dysfunction in Parkinson's disease 
  • Recognize importance of appropriate nursing interventions and team referrals
  • Discuss issues with weight loss across the trajectory of Parkinson's disease
  • Recognize cardinal symptoms of Parkinson's disease 
  • Identify secondary motor features in Parkinson's disease
  • Name and define motor complications
  • Discuss factors that impact motor function 
  • Discuss determinants of quality of life, with no respect to motor function 
  • Identify nursing and PT, OT, and SLP interventions used to minimize impact of motor symptoms on quality of life 

Part 3: Non Motor Symptoms and Challenges

Learning Objectives 

  • Describe potential problems with the autonomic nervous system, fatigue, and sleep changes in Parkinson's disease
  • List three strategies for each category
  • Identify the role of the nurse in assessment and management of non motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease
  • Discuss caregiver burden with non motor symptoms in all stages of Parkinson's disease
  • Describe problems, overview of treatment; including pharma and non-pharmalogic treatment of non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's
  • Describe the changes in neuropsychiatric status; cognition, mood, and psychosis