Paper Example on Health Care Priority Issue

Introduction

The issue chosen for the paper is hypertension. The problem majorly affects the population of African Americans, especially in the United States. It is more common in people at a younger age, and when not controlled it leads to death. Hypertension causes adverse effects and may lead to the development of other conditions such as heart disease, stroke and kidney failure. It is estimated that the prevalence of high blood pressure among African Americans is at a percentage of 39 (Sessoms, Reid, Williams & Hinton, 2015). Furthermore, the mortality rate caused by the condition is about 52% in men while in women it is at 40% (Still, Ferdinand, Ogedegbe & Wright, 2015). For the case of children, studies have revealed that it mostly affects teenagers. The figures are projected to be about 25% of African Americans teens while for the white, it is around 17% (Sessoms et al., 2015). It is evident that hypertension is a crisis among the black people.

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Researchers have contributed various factors to trigger hypertension in the blacks. One of them is genetic factors; it is considered that the population has genetic make-up from the African descent that leads to the development of the condition (Sessoms et al., 2015). Moreover, the blacks are sensitive to salt which is one of the risk factors that facilitates advancement of hypertension. Additionally, scholars have instigated that the environment that most African Americans dwell in causes the high rates of blood pressure (Larsen et al., 2014). Most blacks are discriminated and have low incomes in the society and are subjected to live in poor conditions (Sessoms et al., 2015). The paper aims to discuss hypertension in African Americans which highlighting various aspects such as its importance to nursing, the interventions and outcomes. As well, it will also investigate the excellence ingenuity that can be used to advance patient care and explain its importance in nursing.

Rationale and Importance to Nursing

The disease was chosen due to some reasons. The scope of the disease suggests that the condition has adverse effects. In the United States, a total of 60 million citizens are affected by high blood pressure, most of them being African Americans (Still et al., 2015). When the impact of the disease is compared with others, it reveals it has a significant impact on the population. Furthermore, there is a need for addressing the matter so that information concerning hypertension can be revealed to help counter the issue. In the world, high blood pressure is the number one cause of mortality, and it is because people lack the fundamental knowledge to prevent themselves earlier. Instead, they find themselves suffering from it and are not aware of various cares they can get. By investigating hypertension in detail, it can help people, more specifically African Americans on how they contract the disease and how to control it. Moreover, they can be able to prevent other hazards that come along with high blood pressure, such as renal disease and cardiac conditions. Therefore, the main purpose is to act as a tool that can be used to pass information to others and suggest strategies that can counter it.

Moreover, the issue is important in nursing so that the practitioner can understand his or her role on the matter. Since hypertension is a leading cause of death among the blacks, it is essential for the nurse to investigate and focus on how to provide patient care to individuals. High blood pressure is not adequately controlled by the African Americans which has led them to suffer more compared to other populations. Nurses are the people that conduct the test and determine if the blood pressure that one has is either healthy or abnormal. Therefore, they are essential to the issue as they have roles to play so that the matter may be eradicated. They have the mandate to educate patients on how to avoid having high blood pressures.

Nursing Interventions and Outcomes

There are various interventions that nurses have applied and have contributed to positive patient outcomes concerning hypertension. There are stages of diseases depending on the registered level of blood pressure. They are classified into primary hypertension which makes up about all of the percentages, and the other is secondary high blood pressure which has identifiable causes. One of the interventions is to implement a regular physical activity for the patient (Harris-Packer, Forehand, Hodges & Leigh, 2017). The nurse diagnoses the individual as unable to tolerate activities. Furthermore, the condition is evident by symptoms such as discomfort, an abnormal rise in blood pressure after a little activity (Still et al., 2015). Additionally, the patient confirms that he or she feels fatigued or weak. The intercession that can be taken by the nurse includes assessing the individual's cardiopulmonary response to any activity (Harris-Packer et al., 2017). More specifically, it focusses on the vital signs before, during and after an activity. Similarly, the practitioner provides an action plan where the patient has to participate in; it can be walking or jogging. In between the activities, the nurse recommends periods of rest so that the person is not fatigued easily (Still et al., 2015). As well, if the person feels pain, the nurse prescribes pain relievers to provide relief. Moreover, the measure allows the health practitioner to achieve different outcomes from the patient. They including having the person increase his or her physical activity, as he or she participates in the exercise regularly (Harris-Packer et al., 2017). The intervention further enhances tolerance and decrease the signs of intolerance in an individual.

The other intervention is advising the patient to reduce his or her sodium intake. The individual is assessed with the risk of reduced cardiac output (Tavares, Camacho & da Mota, 2017). It is the condition where the blood pumped to the heart is inadequate to meet the needs of the body. Therefore, one experiences myocardial ischemia and ventricular rigidity. However, there are measures taken that can aid in reducing the effects of hypertension in a patient. The nurse needs to advise the patient to reduce his or her sodium intake. But before, it is necessary for the practitioner to test the individual by performing a series of test including, cardiac markers, electrolytes and the blood cell count (Still et al., 2015). Moreover, it helps to determine other contributing aspects apart from excessive intake of salts. Furthermore, the nurse measures the blood pressure of the person and observes the heart rhythm (Tavares et al., 2017). After, it is important to record the patterns of pressure that the patient exhibits. Additionally, there are outcomes that accompany the interventions such as the person having a stable cardiac rate (Tavares et al., 2017). Also, the blood pressure becomes regulated at the desired range which can be regarded as healthy for the individual. Likewise, it enables the patient to participate in activities which he or she was hindered before due to the condition.

Quality Improvement Initiative and Patient Care

Using the interventions from the articles, the quality initiative that would be recommended to facilitate the improvement of patient care is engaging the staff, patients and practitioners in proper blood pressure technique. Most of the researchers have revealed that most African American patients are not properly diagnosed with hypertension (Larsen et al., 2014). Thus, it significantly contributes to them suffering from the disease. The time at which the health practitioners have to address the issue is very limited leading to the negligence of the condition. Therefore, it contributes to other condition such as cardiac diseases. Moreover, the issue can be adequately addressed if the blood pressure is correctly taken so that possible measures can be taken. The staff that is interacting with the patients need directly to be trained and receive qualification on how to conduct the measures.

Furthermore, it includes using the right equipment and properly recording the values. After that, there is a need for the person to report any abnormal measures that may signify the patient is at risk of developing hypertension. Additionally, it is also a role that the patients need to engage in, by them being shown how to take the measurement s on their own. It helps them understand certain request that the staff impose on them during the tests. For example, there may be the use of displaying posters that portray the necessary steps involved in the measuring of blood pressure. Also, it helps them to take charge of their health and be involved in the decisions made as well being aware of their condition.

Nursing, Quality and Outcomes

It is vital for the nurses to be associated since they interact with the patients more. They are the ones that conduct the test and determine the condition that one may be suffering from. Therefore, there is a need for them to be adequately taught the need of ensuring the technique of measuring blood pressure is correct. Moreover, if they note any abnormal changes they are the one to report to the physician so that the next medical step may be taken. Furthermore, they could teach the patients on the need of following the requests during the conduction of the test. Additionally, they illustrate and portray how one could take the correct readings and measurement of their blood pressure. Most African Americans are not informed on the matter and do not know what the correct figures for their blood pressure are and at what point it is critical (Larsen et al., 2014). Thus, the practitioners would be essential in providing such information to prevent further risks.

Moreover, there are various nursing values that are needed to improve the care that hypertension patients receive. One of them is human dignity, which refers to the ability of a person to regard others with honour and respect. Most African Americans are discriminated in health facilities. Hence, they do not seek medical attention (Larsen et al., 2014). However, if nurses possess the value, it will encourage patients to visit hospitals since they receive proper care despite their race. Additionally, the other value is integrity. Having the quality enables one not to neglect any important detail that may be crucial regarding the disease. The health practitioner can choose the correct technique for measuring hypertension and correctly record the values. Furthermore, a nurse that has the quality ensures a follow up is made in case the patient exhibits abnormal rates of blood pressure. Therefore, he or she can deliver adequate health care to the patients, most especially, African Americans who are widely affected.

Conclusion

In conclusion, hypertension is a health priority issue among African Americans. It has significantly contributed to the death of most of them and has led to the development of other conditions such as cardiac diseases and kidney failures. Not only does it affect the older people, but it also impacts the teenagers. The main contributors are genetic factors, environmental and social aspects such as discrimination. Many blacks are not aware of their condition thus they realise it when it is too late. The topic is essential in nursing as it enables one to investigate the issues that contribute to the matter. Furthermore, the material can be used to impart knowledge to those who have no information concerning hypertension. There are various nursing interventions that have proved to be successful in controlling the issue. They include recommending regular exercise and reducing the intake of salts which is major contributor among the blacks. Additionally, there is a need for engaging the staff, physicians and pati...