How a Patient Problem Impacts the Quality of Care and Safety

Many people face different stressful situations in life. Their cultural, economic, social, and personal factors affect the lifestyle of hypertension patients a lot. The issue of hypertension is becoming a bit of a threat in the United States. The current case is related to Mr Ahmed Ul Hassan, a Somali male who has been living in Wisconsin and has extensive use of alcohol and tobacco.

Due to neglecting his cholesterol levels and rising blood pressure levels, the individual has been suffering from hypertension and also showing signs of cardiac pain. The current healthcare plan focuses on the prevention and cure of hypertension, which affects the person’s overall well-being.

Similar to many patients, Ahmed has failed to meet his glycemic targets set by the National Standard Guidelines for Hypertension Management, which has boosted the threat of hypertension. The patient also faced some vascular problems. Nurses think that due to the increasing number of hypertension patients, the healthcare system is facing high-cost challenges.

NURS FPX 4900 Assessment 2 Assessing the Problem

In the 2-hour practicum session, the nurse found that a patient was hospitalized twice due to cardiovascular and chest pain issues. The Ineffective treatment that was provided to the patient contributed to the development of hypertension. Healthcare professionals aim to follow high-standard treatment guidelines that are aligned with the Healthy People 2030 goal.

The session highlighted that the patient was given hydrochlorothiazide twice, but the night nurse was unaware due to poor communication with the day nurse. This kind of medication errors and miscommunication can severely impact the patient’s health. It highlights the need for better communication among healthcare providers.

The Practicum also indicated that the patient has been taking beta-blockers with high salt levels and relied on hypoglycemic medications. Due to the lack of medical insurance, the patient couldn’t afford essential medical supplies like glucose strips. Managing hypertension properly requires a structured approach, including proper medication and diet planning by nurses.

It highlights that high prescription costs add to the patient’s financial burden, affecting his/her overall health. Proper healthcare measures are essential to reduce economic stress on patients and their families.

This whole process improves medication adherence and controls hypertension symptoms. Hypertension can cause serious damage to blood vessels and arteries, leading to blocked arteries, stroke, heart failure, and kidney failure. The best prevention method is proper knowledge and management of hypertension and blood pressure.

Hypertension poses multiple safety risks, and self-monitoring blood pressure is often insufficient. Incorrect medication and treatment increase healthcare costs, leading to frequent hospital re-admissions and higher operational expenses. The rising costs and re-admissions show that hypertension management requires broader healthcare interventions beyond nursing care alone.

Evidence-Based Practices – Role of state board and policy interventions on Quality, Safety and Costs

To make sure that hypertension patients are treated well and there are fewer re-admission costs. Many researchers recommend Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) to connect hypertension patients with resources to improve health outcomes. Effective self-management requires better nurse education to guide patients properly.

According to Bress et al. (2017), nurses should be trained in Hypertension Self-Management Education (HSME) to improve patient care. Better-educated nurses can help patients with medication adherence, exercise routines, and diet plans to control hypertension. HSME techniques focus on a patient-centred approach, providing knowledge-based compliance in treatment.

Implementing HSMES techniques provides nurses with financial and non-financial resources to combat hypertension effectively. The DSMES model also improves nurses’ skills in hypertension and heart disease management, making treatment more cost-effective. The DSMES program promotes better medication adherence and helps reduce pharmaceutical costs.

Government Interventions & Policy Recommendations

The government has introduced insurance schemes to regulate national insurance firms. It helps patients lower healthcare costs. These policies ensure access to appropriate hypertension management equipment for better treatment. The National Health Authority (NHA) guidelines recommend a well-trained nursing workforce under expert supervision.

Interdisciplinary teamwork among healthcare professionals helps improve patient outcomes and reduce hospitalizations (Powers, 2019). For better hypertension management, nurses need to follow an integrated therapeutic approach that includes a structured nutrition plan per NHA guidelines. Technological applications can help nurses connect with advanced hypertension management tools, emphasizing the role of telehealth solutions.

NURS FPX 4900 Assessment 2 Assessing the Problem

Modern healthcare practices require better strategies for managing blood pressure and hypertension. Patient and nurse stress levels have been rising due to long working hours and demanding workloads. The selected patient was unaware of the mental health consequences of hypertension. Research indicates that the U.S. healthcare system faces widespread hypertension issues.

There is a shortage of well-trained nursing instructors and experts in hypertension care (Luger, 2019). The United States Nursing Health Care Board recommends better coordination and leadership practices for nurses and hospitals. Policies and guidelines can expand nurses’ roles in improving interventions for hypertension management. State board and government regulations can help organizations develop better strategies to reduce hypertension rates.

Strategies to Improve Quality, Safety, and Costs to the System

The American Hypertension Association’s National Standard Guidelines help nurses maintain healthy blood pressure levels and plan better dietary choices for hypertension patients. The International Hypertension Federation recommends nurses follow HbA1c management guidelines, targeting a 7.0 percent level to aid in lifestyle adjustments.

The National Heart Association emphasizes cholesterol control through healthy dietary habits (e.g., using healthy fats and avoiding oily meals). Implementing cost-effective strategies in hospitals can reduce financial burdens by optimizing equipment use, such as sphygmomanometers and medications.

Role of Organizational Culture and Telemedicine in Hypertension Care

Organizational culture plays a key role in ensuring safe, efficient, and high-quality hypertension management (Kashani et al., 2019). Training, education, and administration coaching help nurses implement safer practices. Effective coordination between nurses and physicians can prevent medication errors and reduce hospital costs.

Doctors and nurses should collaborate in reviewing patients’ blood pressure indicators alongside nutritionists. Telemedicine has proven effective in streamlining pharmaceutical information, ensuring optimal healthcare outcomes. Healthcare professionals should actively participate in educational programs and training sessions to enhance patient diet, medication plans, and lifestyle improvements.

Telehealth tools, such as mobile phones and computers, allow nurses to deliver real-time instructions through video conferencing. These interventions lower hypertension distress, improve glucose monitoring, and enhance patient quality of life (Cohen et al., 2018).

Benefits of Telemedicine in Hypertension Management

Carthon and Hatfield (2019) highlight that telemedicine enhances the quality of care (QoC) in hospitals by:

• Assisting nurses in better patient engagement.
• Reducing medical errors.

Hypertension Nurse Specialists (HNSs) play a vital role in patient-focused outcomes and strengthening healthcare policies. The HNS program enhances the involvement of physicians, stakeholders, and families in patient care. Education and telemedicine adoption can help overcome regional healthcare challenges and improve overall health outcomes (Alqaene, 2020).

References

Alqaene, F. A., Steinke, D., & Keers, R. N. (2020). Prevalence and nature of medication errors and medication-related harm following discharge from hospital to community settings: A systematic review. Drug Safety, 43(6), 517-537.

Bress, A. P., Bellows, B. K., King, J. B., Hess, R., Bedduh, S., Zhang, Z., & Moran, A. E. (2017). Cost-effectiveness of intensive versus standard blood-pressure control. New England Journal of Medicine, 377(8), 745-755.

Carthon, J. M. B., Davis, L., Dierkes, A., Hatfield, L., Hedgeland, T., Holland, S., & Aiken, L. H. (2019). Association of nurse engagement and nurse staffing on patient safety. Journal of Nursing Care Quality, 34(1), 40.

Cohen, D. J., Dorr, D. A., Knierim, K., DuBard, C. A., Hemler, J. R., Hall, J. D., & Balasubramanian, B. A. (2018). Primary care practices’ abilities and challenges in using electronic health record data for quality improvement. Health Affairs, 37(4), 635-643.

Kashani, K., Rosner, M. H., Haase, M., Lewington, A. J., O’Donoghue, D. J., Wilson, F. P., & Wu, V. C. (2019). Quality improvement goals for acute kidney injury. Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, 14(6), 941-953.

Luger, S. J., & Ford, D. J. (2019). A pilot quality improvement project facilitating leadership skills in rural new graduate nurses. Online Journal of Rural Nursing & Health Care, 19(1).

Powers, K., Herron, E. K., & Pagel, J. (2019). Nurse preceptor role in new graduate nurses’ transition to practice. Dimensions of Critical Care Nursing, 38(3), 131-136.

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