Having a nurse on your care team can help with a quicker response to your concerns.
Primary care nurses work alongside GPs and other health professionals to help you manage your health and maintain your independence.
What is a primary care nurse?
A primary care nurse is a registered nurse or enrolled nurse who works in community-based health settings, including general practices, Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations, community health services, aged care services, and other primary healthcare settings. Primary care nurses work alongside GPs and other health professionals to help you manage your health and maintain your independence.
If you live with Parkinson’s, a primary care nurse can play an important role in helping you manage your symptoms, coordinate your care team, monitor health changes, and access appropriate services.
How can a primary care nurse help?
We all know that Parkinson’s affects each person differently. Symptoms and support needs can change over time. A primary care nurse can provide ongoing support between appointments with your GP, neurologist, and coordinate referrals to other specialists.
Health monitoring
A primary care nurse can:
- Monitor your blood pressure, weight, and general health.
- Identify changes in your symptoms or function.
- Monitor the impact of medications.
- Help identify health issues that may affect Parkinson’s symptoms.
- Support early intervention when problems arise.
Regular monitoring can help detect issues before they become more serious.
Ongoing healthcare support
Primary care nurses have an important role in chronic condition management. They work with you to ensure your care needs are identified, monitored, and reviewed over time.
They may help you:
- Set health goals and help you build the skills and confidence to proactively manage your health.
- Develop and review care plans.
- Coordinate appointments and referrals.
- Track progress towards agreed goals.
- Support self-management strategies that help you manage symptoms and daily activities.
Medication support
Parkinson’s medications often need to be taken at specific times.
A primary care nurse can:
- Discuss medication routines.
- Help identify medication-related concerns.
- Monitor side effects.
- Support conversations with your GP about medication management.
- Reinforce the importance of taking medications as prescribed.
Always speak with your GP, neurologist, or pharmacist before making any changes to your medications.
Care coordination
Many people with Parkinson’s see several health professionals.
Your care team may include:
- GP
- Neurologist
- Physiotherapist
- Occupational therapist
- Speech pathologist
- Dietitian
- Psychologist
- Social worker
- Community support workers
A primary care nurse can help coordinate communication between different providers and ensure your care remains connected and person-centred.
This can be particularly important if you have complex health needs or multiple medical conditions.
Education & self-management support
Understanding Parkinson’s can help you make informed decisions about your care.
Primary care nurses can provide education about:
- Symptom management (e.g. constipation, fatigue).
- Healthy lifestyle behaviours.
- Physical activity.
- Falls prevention.
- Sleep issues.
- Nutrition and hydration.
- Planning for future care needs.
They can also support you to develop practical strategies that help you stay as independent as possible.
Supporting mental health & wellbeing
Parkinson’s can affect mood, thinking, motivation, and emotional health.
Some people experience:
- Anxiety.
- Depression.
- Apathy.
- Stress related to living with a chronic neurological condition.
A primary care nurse can:
- Check in on your mental health.
- Identify concerns early.
- Encourage discussions with your GP about getting a Mental Health Plan in place.
- Give you referrals to mental health services when needed.
Support is available, and addressing mental health concerns is an important part of Parkinson’s care.
Supporting care partners & families
Parkinson’s affects families and care partners as well as the person living with the condition.
Primary care nurses can:
- Provide carer information and education.
- Connect families with support services (e.g. Carer Gateway, Carers Australia and your local state/territory organisation).
- Help identify carer stress and burnout.
- Support access to respite and community resources.
Preventive healthcare
Primary care nurses play an important role in keeping you as healthy as possible.
They can support:
- Vaccinations.
- Health screening.
- Management of other chronic conditions.
- Risk factor management.
- Health promotion activities.
Preventive healthcare remains important regardless of your stage of Parkinson’s.
How do I access supports?
It’s advisable to explore all available pathways to find the support that best suits your individual needs. Look to:
- getting a GP referral to someone with Parkinson‘s experience
- your state-based Parkinson’s organisation for advice
- Ask Izzy https://askizzy.org.au/ to search for local services to access
- private health to see what is covered in relation to consultations and expenses
- DVA, NDIS or My Aged Care plan supports.
Infosheet under review
References
Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association. (n.d.). Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association. https://www.apna.asn.au
Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association. (n.d.). Principles of chronic conditions management. https://www.apna.asn.au/education/principles-of-chronic-disease-management
Mcewan, K., Clarke, A., Dalkin, S., & Hand, A. (2024). The impact and value of the Parkinson’s nurse specialist to people with Parkinson’s and their care partners: A grounded theory qualitative study. BMC Nursing, 23, 791.
Nunes, S. F. L., Alvarez, A. M., & Valcarenghi, R. V. (2022). Parkinson’s in primary health care and nursing care: A scoping review. Revista da Escola de Enfermagem da USP, 56, e20210367. https://doi.org/10.1590/1980-220X-REEUSP-2021-0367
Thomas, S., Edwards, E., & Kobylecki, C. (2024). Parkinson’s nurses are crucial for the management of Parkinson’s: 2007-2024. Journal of Parkinson’s Disease, 14 (Suppl 1), S209-S217. https://doi.org/10.3233/JPD-230224
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