II Encuentro entre Asociaciones y Pacientes Neurológicos de la Sociedad Española de Enfermería Neurológica

Empowerment is known as enabling the patient to manage their self-care. In this process patients acquire knowledge, attitudes, and skills regarding their disease in a facilitative environment. Neurology nurses are fundamental in educating and motivating this population. Nevertheless, collaboration between professionals and patients is the key to patient empowerment and coping. This is why SEDENE held the second meeting between neurological patients and associations in the context of the XXIX National and V International Congress of SEDENE in the city of Granada in 2022. The nurse Pedro Soriano and patients’ associations of multiple sclerosis (AGDEM), epilepsy (APICE), Parkinson's disease (Parkinson Granada), stroke (NEUROAFEIC), headache (AEMICE), and ALS (AGRAELA) collaborated. Soriano spoke about helping relationships where patients can express emotions, feelings, and healthcare professionals are able to create an environment of trust to develop patient empowerment. Concerning patient coping skills, they talk about their fears regarding the diagnosis process, resilience, and strategies to improve their abilities in a special visit. The social and work circumstances that are affected in these patients’ lives were discussed, and their difficulties trying to balance their symptoms and their jobs or exams. They explained to us how changes in roles due to their disease affect social integration and family relationships. They reiterated how they had lost their personal identity with the diagnosis of their disease and its progression. Neurology nurses are a point of reference in their care, essential in interdisciplinary teams, and they highlight inequalities in care according to communities and areas. We would therefore like to thank all the attendees for their testimonies and participation, and hope that these activities will influence nursing practice in the care of neurological patients.