Paper Example on MSN Family Nurse Practitioner: Delivering Family-Focused Care

My specialty in the Master of Nursing (MSN) degree is a family nurse practitioner (FNP). As a family nurse practitioner, one can work alone or in collaboration with other health care professionals to deliver family-focused care. Given the broad nature of a family setting, FNP are trained to work with patients across all age groups, including children and the old. The specialty's responsibilities include the provision of a wide range of healthcare services that involve a family unit. FNPs can provide preventive, acute, and chronic healthcare services. Such services include but not limited to diagnosis, regular checkups, health risk assessments, screen tests, managing chronic illnesses, immunization, and treatment. Also, the specialty involves providing health education to a family unit. FNPs often serve their patients for a long time.

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The practice concern, in this case, is the worldwide flu epidemic that affects many patients each year. The illness is also referred to as influenza. It is a respiratory disease that infects the lungs, nose, and throat (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], n.d.). It is caused by influenza viruses, which are spread through respiratory droplets. The influenza viruses, if not contained, can spread very fast to all parts of the world and infect millions of people (Demicheli, Jefferson, Ferroni, Rivetti, & Di Pietrantonj, 2018). Usually, flu attacks are seasonal, and infection can be prevented by taking yearly vaccination. Currently, there are no drugs that can cure the illness. However, some medications can reduce the severity of the infection, if taken in the early stages of the disease, which is within two days. Influenza is divided into four types, including A, B, C, and D. both types A and B are known to spread and cause epidemics of illnesses across the world (CDC, n.d.). Type C is rarely detected and causes mild infections, thus not a common concern as public health issues. Type D only attacks cattle and has not been identified to cause any illness among people (Demicheli, et al., 2018). Common flu symptoms include a headache, runny or stuffy nose, fatigue, dry cough, body aches ranging from mild to severe, shivers, cold sweat, fever, and low appetite. It is important to note that one must not have all the symptoms to be diagnosed with the flu (Demicheli, et al., 2018). On some occasions, people suffering from illness may not have high temperatures. Adults can also have breathing challenges, confusion, dizziness, and dehydration expressed through a lack of urinating. Children, on the other hand, can appear bored, breathe rapidly, dehydration, bluish lips, and very low alertness levels (Iuliano et al., 2018).

Nurses make up the most significant percentage of healthcare provider professionals. Their primary function is ensuring quality healthcare is provided to all people. Flu, just like any other disease, is a healthcare issue, requiring treatment. Flu symptoms come suddenly, and at times cause death, making it an important issue requiring healthcare attention (CDC, n.d.). Given that flu is preventable through vaccination, yet a fatal disease, it would be so bad people dying from evadable illnesses. Everyone, including healthy people, can get infected by the influenza virus at any age. However, there are several groups, if affected by the virus, are at higher risk of suffering severe complications. They include pregnant women, children under five years, individuals suffering from chronic conditions (such as cardiovascular disease, asthma, and diabetes), and older people (over 65 years) (CDC, n.d.). People suffering from immunosuppressive health issues like those under chemotherapy treatment, malignancy, or steroid medication, and individuals with HIV/AIDS are at a higher risk of severe flu conditions. The condition's capability to spread very fast across the world makes it a significant health issue. Flu has the capability to infect millions of people across the globe, endangering lives. Historically, in 1918, the virus infected about one-third of the world population and estimated to have caused 50 million deaths, making it the severest pandemic in recent history (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2017). In the United States, 675000 fatalities were caused by the disease during that period. Currently, it is estimated that between 291,000 and 646,000 patients die due to flu-related complications (CDC, 2017). Such a vast number makes it an essential issue in the healthcare sector. Nurses and other healthcare providers are at higher risk of getting infected due to exposure and spreading it to vulnerable people. Therefore, flu is an essential issue in nursing and healthcare.

Besides vaccination, the scope of concern is widening to include health education, preventive measures among healthcare providers, quicker diagnosis, and improved treatment process. The best precautionary action against the illness is taking yearly flu vaccinations. Nurses and other healthcare providers are working hard to ensure that vaccinations are given. Today, technology has made it easier, through electronic health records and data warehousing, which remind both people and caregivers on timely vaccinations. Healthcare providers have initiated educative measures to sensitize the public on flu complications. Campaigns on the importance of vaccinations and leading a healthy life are initiated as preventive measures (CDC, 2017). Also, healthcare providers employ different means to avoid infections or spreading the flu to patients. Such measures include following safety steps such as compulsory use of gas masks and gloves when dealing with infected patients. Early diagnosis and treatment of the disease are also considered to help patients get well sooner.

There are several indicators that there is a need for change. The high number of patients getting infected increases every day. The government, through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, estimates that the current flu season might be the worst the country has faced for seventeen years. So far, 27 children and 2900 people have died from flu this season (CDC, 2017). The high number of people that ignore taking the vaccination, even with the severity of the disease, is worrying.

Element of PICOT Question

P-Population and problem - The nursing practice concern is the seasonal spread of flu, a disease that is responsible for many deaths. In this case, the affected population is the nuclear families.

I-Intervention - Offering a training workshop to volunteering families. The training will entail healthy living topics, and put emphasis on flu disease.

C-Comparison - The group that will not attend the training and workshop. O-Outcome - The intervention will work if the families that attended the training report reduced rates of flu infection, compared to families that did not attend the workshop. T-Time frame - 5 weeks

PICOT Question

In nuclear families setting, does attending training and workshop on healthy living issues including flu preventive measure compared to families that do not attend the training and workshop on healthy living issues including flu preventive measure reduced risk of the virus infection

five weeks training.

P- Nuclear families

I- Those that attend training and workshop on healthy living issues

C- Those that do not attend training and workshop on healthy living issues

O- Reduced risk of flu infection

T- 5 weeks

Key search terms and phrases: family health education, flu symptoms, flu preventive measures, flu seasons, health education, effects of flu on a family, health campaign, flu epidemic, flu diagnosis, and flu treatment.

Nursing Theory

To guide the project, the interpersonal nursing theory will be used. Hildegard Peplau developed the theory in the year 1952 (Bach & Grant, 2015). the interpersonal theory requires a nurse to develop a productive relationship with the patient, based on mutual respect. The theory identifies four steps in the nurse-patient interactions (Bach & Grant, 2015). The first step is the orientation stage. In this phase, the nurse helps the patient become engaged with the treatment process. In the training project, the nurse will get to know the families' level of understanding concerning flu and other health issues. Also, the nurse will evaluate the health literacy level of the participants. The second stage is the identification phase. The nurse should identify the content and depth of training to conduct. The participants will understand the purpose and importance of the training. The third stage is the exploitation phase, where health education is started. Discussions, presentations, and practical teaching are done. All prepared topics and content are covered during this stage, making it the most important step. The final step is the resolution stage. The nurse should evaluate the participants' understanding of the topics covered. Finally, participants should be prepared to use information learned during the training period.

References

Bach, S., & Grant, A. (2015). Communication and interpersonal skills in nursing. Learning Matters. Retrieved from https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=26yICwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&dq=interpersonal+nursing+theory+&ots=6N4AqzuijO&sig=PjWd0eE5XuQFnTLsoQktjo_YPPA

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2017, December 13). Seasonal flu death estimate increases worldwide. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2017/p1213-flu-death-estimate.html

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Key Facts About Influenza (Flu) Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/keyfacts.htm

Demicheli, V., Jefferson, T., Ferroni, E., Rivetti, A., & Di Pietrantonj, C. (2018). Vaccines for preventing influenza in healthy adults. Cochrane database of systematic reviews, (2). Retrieved from https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD001269.pub6/abstract

Iuliano, A. D., Roguski, K. M., Chang, H. H., Muscatello, D. J., Palekar, R., Tempia, S., ... & Wu, P. (2018). Estimates of global seasonal influenza-associated respiratory mortality: a modelling study. The Lancet, 391(10127), 1285-1300. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140673617332932