Introduction
In high blood pressure, a common illness, the blood consistently presses too hard against the artery, putting internal organs in danger of serious problems. The strength of the heart to pump blood and the arteries’ stiffness affect an individual’s blood pressure. Combinations of variables, such as artery constriction and greater cardiac output, lead to hypertension. Millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) are the reference standard for measuring blood pressure.
Currently, hypertension is considered a significant health risk due to its impact on the global population. It affects millions of people in the US, many of whom also have unmanageable high blood pressure (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020). Hypertension increases the risk of heart disease, hemorrhage, heart failure, and death. The likelihood of developing these problems can be considerably decreased by managing blood pressure and maintaining it within normal ranges. Only around 25% of those with hypertension have it under control, according to the CDC (2020). A complicated interaction between a person’s lifestyle, environment, and inherent genetic elements causes hypertension.
The decline in death rates from heart disease and stroke in industrialized nations is primarily due to advances in detection and treatment research.
Treatment for hypertension is relatively uncommon, and its prevalence is associated with low control rates. Pharmacological therapies have dramatically lowered the risk of cardiovascular morbidity and death (Correa et al., 2018). The risk and regularity of cardiovascular events associated with therapy for hypertension have a significant impact on their family and friends. Although strokes can happen to anybody, they are more common among the senior population. Medical professionals, the healthcare system, and the methods used to treat hypertensive patients all have a role to play in solving the hypertension puzzle. Regrettably, a lack of adequate control of hypertension may be the consequence of both the ineptitude of the hospital staff and the noncompliance of the patient with regard to their prescription.
This issue fascinates me in particular since, in my capacity as a registered nurse, I frequently encounter patients in my unit who have been diagnosed with hypertension. Compared to younger generations, the incidence is significantly higher in older persons aged 54 and beyond (Abu et al., 2020). The individual who will be the focus of this evaluation is Mr. Koome, an African American adult who is 70 years old and was diagnosed with hypertension a decade ago. His history of substance misuse, including alcoholism, obesity, stroke, chronic cigarette smoking, and coronary artery disease, substantially impacts the quality of his life.
During the diagnosing process, Mr. Koome received information on hypertension; nevertheless, he has not followed the advice provided to him. He acknowledges that there are occasions when he does not always check his blood pressure before taking medicine and that there are also instances when he forgets to take his prescription. This examination aims to explore strategies for improving the patient’s health, study data from published research that has been subjected to peer review, and suggest nursing practices and regulatory frameworks that might have a beneficial influence on the patient’s health.
Analyzing Evidence Related to the Problem
The most successful methods, supported by data, for treating hypertension and perhaps curing the condition include making changes to one’s lifestyle and taking prescribed drugs as directed. The patient’s motivation, as well as demographic characteristics such as educational status, patient income, age, self-efficacy, and co-morbidity, all have a role in whether or not the patient adheres to the advised adjustments in lifestyle (Abul et al., 2020). Other characteristics include a knowledge of the condition, having a supportive social network, being overweight, smoking, drinking alcohol, and leading a sedentary lifestyle. Enhancements to institutions, such as forming interdisciplinary teams with counseling expertise, are required to carry out modification operations successfully. The capacity of hypertension patients to adapt to lifestyle changes should be improved via the development of programs by medical institutions, and healthcare staff should be provided with enough understanding about lifestyle modifications to assist hypertension patients.
For a treatment plan to be successful and evidence-based, it is necessary for it to comply with specific criteria when choosing data sources. One of these requirements is the exclusive use of research that other experts have evaluated that is kept up-to-date and relevant. It is essential to the process of doing research that relies on strong evidence to have the papers involved examined by other experts on the subject. In order to collect information necessary for this research on hypertension, medical databases such as Cinahl and PubMed were utilized. To locate pertinent findings, a comprehensive search on hypertension and nursing practice standards was carried out utilizing sources published during the last several years. It is advisable always to avoid relying on sources of data that are not reputable, such as non-peer-reviewed papers or those that are outdated.
The effects of treatments on hypertension have been demonstrated via studies. Adler (2019) states that the hypertension improvement programs implemented in a community helped improve the condition and hypertension management. Patients were constantly reminded of their medication schedule, weekly visits, and other health-related matters via short message service (SMS) applications (SMS). Seventy percent of patients had successfully managed their hypertension when the hypertension improvement program was launched (Adler, 2019). With the use of incentives, the program is more likely to keep most of its participants engaged for the scheduled monitoring duration.
Nurses may influence their patients’ present and future via policy work. Through lobbying, they are able to use their political expertise to affect decision-making and associated problems, which in turn improves outcomes, prevents disease and decreases hospital readmissions. Nursing theories and conceptual frameworks empower nurses with new ways of looking at their patients and their professional duties (Araki, 2019). Such efforts can help the practitioner provide better care for hypertensive patients and direct any necessary action.
As per the information presented in the analysis of the above articles, it is of the utmost importance to determine and treat all of the relevant risk factors for hypertension, make adjustments to our way of life, and start the first pharmacological therapy to treat hypertension properly. Equally as essential as interacting with patients on their terms and gauging how well they comprehend and feel about their illness are meeting patients where they are.
State Board of Nursing Practice and Governmental Policies
The Nurse Practice Act defines and regulates the scope of practice for registered nurses; therefore, familiarity with this law is essential for the nursing profession. The nursing boards in each state are responsible for ensuring that nursing regulations are followed. To ensure that nurses everywhere are competent and qualified to do their jobs, each state has enacted its Nurse Practice Act, which may be found here. Guidelines for nurses controlling hypertension can be found in nursing practice standards and government legislation (Spector et al., 2018). Patients’ results and general well-being have been considerably improved because of the recommendations.
Sustainable, low-cost, and successful interventions and policies have been adopted at the state and municipal levels to combat the problem of hypertension. Any nursing care given to a patient must be carried out in accordance with the law (Spector et al., 2018). The Board of Nursing and its Nurse Practice Standards play a crucial role in regulating the nursing profession. Due to the benefits of the Nursing and Midwifery Board’s strict regulations, RNs may treat their clients and conduct themselves confidently. RNs should be conscious that they are responsible for providing safe, legal care, and following all applicable ethical standards. High-quality nursing care for Mr. Koome depends on nurses adhering to state nursing practice standards, which has implications for the inclusion of non-maleficence and autonomy in the planning of his care.
Leadership Methods that Boost Outcomes
Nurses play a crucial role in improving health outcomes, expanding access to treatment, and easing the burden on healthcare systems. According to Araki. (2019), patients with hypertension benefit from nurses’ efforts to educate them, coordinate their care, and take the lead in implementing leadership techniques. One of the most successful methods of hypertension management is individualized care based on each patient’s specific needs (Araki, 2019). For Mr. Koome to get the finest care possible and see an improvement in his results, a more all-encompassing strategy is necessary. The patient’s primary care physician, cardiologist, and other specialists can work together effectively in a multidisciplinary approach. The numerous doctors and nurses working on this case can coordinate and communicate more effectively in order to use an interdisciplinary approach to patient care (Araki, 2019). The benefits of coordinated care are lower the risk of the patient receiving fragmented care, reducing hospitalizations and unnecessary medical treatment, increasing adherence to medical treatment, and eventually increasing the quality of care.
The patient’s blood pressure will be kept within normal range using a multidisciplinary approach I will execute to change management. Experts in hypertension are necessary for determining the cause of treatment resistance. If no etiological therapies are available, multidisciplinary interventions should be considered by nurses, pharmacists, nutritionists, physiotherapists, social workers, psychologists, and public health experts. When conventional and alternative methods of determining blood pressure are insufficient, they should be examined as an additional option. I will make sure patients get their meds on time, take them correctly, and learn to take charge of their health.
Conclusion
Age-related hypertension is a significant health issue that disproportionately impacts the elderly. Mr. Koome, a male patient, was evaluated since he had been diagnosed with hypertension and had not been following medical instructions. Mr. Koome’s hypertension treatment strategy should be determined using the most accurate and up-to-date medical evidence available in order to get the most remarkable potential outcomes for his health. There are greater outcomes and less medical disarray for hypertension patients treated by multidisciplinary teams. Each nurse must abide by the rules for nursing practice that are in force in their state at the time of practice. When taken collectively, these elements can aid hypertensives in improving their health and well-being while mitigating the severity of the disease’s negative effects.
References
Abu, H., Aboumatar, H., Carson, K. A., Goldberg, R., & Cooper, L. A. (2018). Hypertension knowledge, heart-healthy lifestyle practices and medication adherence among adults with hypertension. European Journal for Person-Centered Healthcare, 6(1), 108.
Adler, A., Laar, A., Prieto-Merino, D., Der, R., Mangortey, D., Dirks, R., & Perel, P. (2019). Can a nurse-led community-based model of hypertension care improve hypertension control in Ghana? BMJ, 9(4).
Araki, M. (2019). Patient-centered care and professional nursing practices. Journal of Biomedical Research and Clinical Investigation, 1(1), 1004.
Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020). High Blood Pressure. Web.
Correa, A., Rochlani, Y., Khan, M. H., & Aronow, W. S. (2018). Pharmacological management of hypertension in the elderly and frail populations. Expert Review of Clinical Pharmacology, 11(8), 805-817.
Spector, N., Hooper, J. I., Silvestre, J., & Qian, H. (2018). Board of Nursing approval of registered nurse education programs. Journal of Nursing Regulation, 8(4), 22-31.