Aspiring Parkinson’s nurses urged to apply for “hands-on” summer school in Portugal

A summer school held in Portugal later this year offers a “unique educational opportunity” for nurses from across Europe with an interest in Parkinson’s disease – and there’s still time to apply

Nurses from across Europe with an interest in Parkinson’s disease are being invited to apply for a “unique” summer school in Portugal later this year.

Applications are still open for the summer school, which is being run by the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society’s European Section (MDS-ES). It will offer hands-on education for nurses who work within neurology and are interested in specialising in Parkinson’s disease.

Participants will receive in-depth instruction from UK Parkinson’s disease nurse specialists and other expert professionals in movement disorders.

Students will attend lectures and panel discussions – and will have the opportunity to examine patients with Parkinson’s disease. They will learn how to manage motor and non-motor symptoms of Parkinson’s throughout its four stages. Students will also be given the opportunity to present their own case studies to small groups for discussion and critique.

Joaquim Ferreira, summer school director and professor of neurology at the University of Lisbon, said: “This first school is the demonstration of the increasing importance of nurses in the management of Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders.

“It’s also a unique opportunity to bring together the nurses in Europe who are dedicated to Parkinson’s disease and will lead the future educational actions. It also demonstrates the relevancy that MDS attributes to the allied health professionals.”

The summer school runs from 29 September to 1 October 2017. Applications close on Friday 7 July.

For more information on the MDS-European Section Summer School for Nurses visit the website