Objective: To determine if the current Parkinson’s Disease Nurse Specialist (PDNS) competency framework 2nd Edition 2008 (1) for nurses working in the management of Parkinson’s Disease (PD) in the United Kingdom (UK) was relevant and fit for purpose, in both primary and secondary healthcare settings.

Background: The practice for PDNS’s working in the UK is outlined in the competency framework for nurses working in PD Management (2008). This framework describes criteria for knowledge, education and skills across 13 identified domains. In view of developments in National standards of practice, including increased awareness around medication management issues, the need to revise the competencies was considered. A value clarification exercise in the form of a questionnaire was undertaken.

Methods: Three PDNS from the Parkinson’s Disease Nurse Specialist Association (PDNSA) Committee, devised an eight point Questionnaire, to seek colleagues views on the usefulness of the competencies, and their relevance to practice. The questionnaire was distributed through the members only section of the PDNSA website to 92 PDNS’s who had recently attended a National PDNSA conference. The questionnaires were subsequently returned by email, and responses collated.

Results: All respondents were specialist nurses working in PD management within the UK. 57 completed questionnaires were returned. 73.6% of respondents identified that they had used the competency framework to guide their educational development. 85.9% of respondents had used the framework to evidence their annual personal development review. 84.2% of respondents had identified gaps in the competency domains. 66.6% of respondents indicated that they had used the competency framework for service development 91.2% of respondents identified the need for the competencies to be revised.

Conclusions: Stakeholders, UK Parkinson’s Excellence Network and the Royal College of Nursing, were approached to work in collaboration with the PDNSA on a 3rd revision of the PDNS competency framework. A working group was formed consisting of 8 members of the PDNSA committee. Each of the 13 domains was revised to reflect good standards of practice, to remain relevant within the current National Health Service. The revised competencies (2) were colour coded across all domains, to distinguish levels of practice from competent to expert specialist nurse, and published in September 2016.

References: Parkinson’s Disease Nurse Specialist Association., Royal College of Nursing., Parkinson’s Disease Society (2008) A Competency Framework for nurses working in Parkinson’s Disease Management. 2nd edn, Royal College of Nursing, London. Parkinson’s Disease Nurse Specialist Association., Royal College of Nursing., Parkinson’s Disease Society (2016) A Competency Framework for nurses working in Parkinson’s Disease Management. 2nd edn, Royal College of Nursing, London.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/a-framework-to-facilitate-competence-in-practice-for-parkinsons-disease-nurse-specialists-in-the-united-kingdom/