NURS-FPX4900 Assessment 1 Assessing the Problem: Leadership, Collaboration, Communication, Change Management, and Policy Considerations Example Paper

Wei et al. (2021) indicate that collaboration among healthcare providers has increased patient outcomes such as adverse drug reactions, decreased mortality and morbidity, and improved medication dosage. One of the main issues impacting healthcare provision among patients is poor communication. Poor communication among nurses and physicians increased patient dissatisfaction and adverse patient outcomes.

Studies indicate that hypertension puts patients at a high risk of developing cardiovascular disease. The mortality rate for hypertension remains high, and the condition remains undertreated, under detected, and uncontrolled. Team-based care is coordinated care which involves various healthcare providers working together collaboratively to help patients manage Hypertension (Linthicum et al., 2021). Team-based care has received attention since it allows patients to access high-quality care from various healthcare providers.

Hospitals that lack proper communication and collaboration among the healthcare provider also experience higher rates of readmission and increased hospital stays among patients. This paper will assess a patient with hypertension from a leadership, communication, collaboration, change management, and policy perspective.

Patient Health Problem and Relevance to Nursing Practice

In this assessment, we will consider the case of Tina Jones, a 38-year-old African American with no history of substance abuse but admits to turning to food as a way of coping with stress and anxiety. She states that she lives in the ‘hood’ and is constantly worrying about the safety of her husband and her son. She is also 30lbs past her recommended BMI. She has issues sticking to a healthy diet because she frequently visits her parents (3-4 times a week) and her father enjoys spoiling her with barbecues and other fried foods.

She does not find eating vegetables appealing and generally avoids them. Her mother has a history of diabetes and high blood pressure, while her father was recently diagnosed with hyperlipidemia. Her father, unlike her, maintains a highly active lifestyle and exercises four days a week. The combination of the poor lifestyle choices and the high blood pressure issue increase Mrs. Jones’ adverse outcomes.

This issue is a significant problem for the patient because it increases her risk of developing cardiovascular conditions. Her poor lifestyle choices also increase her chances of developing diabetes, among other lifestyle-related diseases. Carey et al. (2018) indicate that African Americans are twice more likely to develop hypertension than other populations.

Blacks have a higher incidence of hypertension-related cardiovascular disease and end-stage renal failure than other populations in the United States. The CDC suggests that a heightened response is necessary due to the disparities in high blood pressure control in African American individuals (Wei et al., 2021). Poor management of hypertension causes patients to develop treatment-resistant hypertension.

Carthon et al. (2019) indicate that African Americans are more sensitive to salt than other patient populations. They also respond differently to high blood pressure medication than other patient groups. As a baccalaureate-prepared nurse, this information is essential because it indicates that while hypertension is mainly a lifestyle-related condition, certain populations are more prone to developing the problem than others (Linthicum et al., 2021).

Therefore, it is vital to constantly advise and educate African American patients about their risk of developing the condition and salt sensitivity. It also demonstrates that specific treatment should be considered for this patient population.

Evidence from Peer-Reviewed Literature Describing and Guiding Nursing Actions Related To the Issue

Research agrees with observations made when treating patients with hypertension. A person’s lifestyle, pharmaceutical regimen, underlying health issues, genetic background, or a combination of these elements can cause hypertension. Age, race, a family medical history of hypertension or premature cardiovascular disease, and other concomitant health issues are all nonmodifiable health issues (Carthon et al., 2019).

Therefore changing a patient’s lifestyle through healthy eating and exercise will achieve a healthy weight and reverse their hypertension diagnosis. Integrated therapy also involves various psychotherapy treatments, including changing the patient’s lifestyle (Wei et al., 2021). The success of a treatment course is measured by the patient’s acceptance and adherence to the treatment regimen. The reliability of research data is measured by comparing various versions of the same measurement. Its validity is found by comparing other relevant data and theories.

Amoah et al. (2020) suggests that despite efforts to combat hypertension through pharmacotherapy, the control of the condition remains low. Lifestyle modifications of patients with hypertension allow them to enjoy better health outcomes. The study assessed the impact of modifiable lifestyle factors on blood pressure among patients in Ghana.

The study used 360 individuals diagnosed with hypertension. The study used a diet and exercise assessment, and the blood pressure was measured frequently. The study concluded that increased physical activity, increased fruit intake, and reduced meat, carbohydrates, and fat positively impacted blood pressure control among patients. The lifestyle modified factors play a significant role in complementing pharmacotherapy in blood pressure control.

Nurses play a significant role in improving patient outcomes. Since they are at the forefront of patient care, nurses are responsible for educating patients on the importance of eating healthily and maintaining an active lifestyle (Linthicum et al., 2021). Nurses also have the role of continuing their education and finding ways of implementing evidence-based research into their treatment plans. Orem’s self-care framework was most suitable for this issue (Wei et al., 2021).

The theory suggests that individuals should deliberately and freely initiate and perform on their behalf in maintaining life, health, and well-being. Nurses’ actions should be directed toward assisting the patient in assuming responsibility for self-care (Nasresabetghadam et al., 2021). Therefore, with proper education on the best lifestyle changes, Mrs. Jones can enjoy a healthy life and significantly reduce her blood pressure and weight.

How the State Board Nursing Practice Standards and Organization Policies Could Impact the Population with Hypertension

According to the Nursing Practice Act (NPA), nurses must provide safe, appropriate, and responsive quality nursing practice and develop a plan for nursing practice. To achieve these objectives, nurses have to implement and recognize the nursing practices and act to improve the treatment and comply with practice requirements (Carthon et al., 2019).

Nurses should advocate for better care for the patients ensure they have the information to with the information they need. Nurses should educate patients on the impact of salty and fried foods on their health. They should also advocate for the creation of public policies which prevent and ensure appropriate treatment for hypertension.

The organizational culture significantly impacts patient care (Wei et al., 2021). A healthier organizational culture will ensure positive patient outcomes such as reduced mortality and length of stay. It will also improve the patients’ quality of life and decrease pain levels. The organization culture should support nurses’ efforts of educating patients and providing evidence-based treatment.

Proper Leadership Strategies to Improve Patient Outcomes Related To Hypertension

Organizational success and leadership have a direct cause-and-effect relationship. Ideology, culture, change adaptability, and employee empowerment are all determined by leaders (Wei et al., 2021). They influence institutional strategies, as well as their implementation and efficacy. Leaders in healthcare institutions have a critical impact on the care provided to patients. They encourage personnel to increase their knowledge, skills, and talents to enhance health care quality, safety, empathy, and patient outcomes (Akbiyik et al., 2020).

They continually encourage, motivate, and reward innovation and introduce new and better working methods. Nasresabetghadam et al. (2021) indicate that when nurses have proper leadership, medical facilities exhibit improvements in patient satisfaction, patient safety outcomes, and fewer medical complications. Nurse leaders are increasingly being asked to provide patients with better healthcare encounters. Effective leadership, communication, and collaboration can increase, leading to better patient outcomes.

Conclusion

Hypertension is a condition that can greatly impact a patient’s outcomes and quality of life. However, since it is a lifestyle-related health problem, it can be managed and reversed when the patients engage in regular exercises and have a better diet. Nurses play a critical role in patient care and educate patients on the best practices to ensure better patient outcomes. Effective organizational leadership can improve patient outcomes, and nurses are encouraged to practice evidence-based patient-centered care. Nurses should also be actively involved in the development of policies and legislation that can help the country and communities reduce the number of patients suffering from hypertension and other lifestyle-related illnesses.