NRS-490 Capstone Project & Literature Review: Treatment of Hypertension
NRS-490 Capstone Project & Literature Review: Treatment of Hypertension
Capstone Project Change Proposal
Background of Proposal
The focus of this capstone project will be on the problem of influenza or flu infection, which is an infectious disease caused by the flu virus and attacks the respiratory system. The rate of occurrence and spread of flu infection has been increasing in the past decade (Parkash et al., 2019). The American Lung Association reports that influenza affects about 5% to 20% of the country’s population. This figure translates to about 200,000 hospital admissions per year, of which approximately 2.5% of these incidences result in deaths (Pless, McLennan, Nicca, Shaw, Elger, 2017). If an individual gets this flu, the infections of his or her nose, lungs, and throat progress from mild to severe, ultimately leading to death if unattended. Natural immunity to flu caused inflammation that leads to such symptoms as fever, throat, cough, and muscle aches.
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Problem Statement of Proposal
The ease of spread of influenza renders it critical in the healthcare setting, mainly because its outbreak within a hospital can make it a hospital-acquired infection for many other patients. The influenza virus is not only highly contagious but also a significant cause of high mortality and morbidity rates across the globe. The risk of contracting influenza infection while at the hospital has made hospitals unsafe for patients rather than a place for healing. Nurses are usually reluctant to take vaccination against flu infection despite the condition being a significant source of health concern, which risks their health and the health of the patients whom they are treating. Since there is constant contact between patients and caregivers, the latter can easily act as a fatal agent for spreading the causative virus, which calls for a regulated care environment through vaccination (Nekkab et al., 2017). Flu has no definite cure, and it can resist a variety of drugs. NRS-490 Capstone Project & Literature Review: Treatment of Hypertension
Purpose of Change Proposal
The purpose of the change proposal is to explore the rate of spread of influenza virus and examine the effectiveness of the medical interventions used to reduce the spread of flu in a hospital setting. The proposal explores the implementation of cough etiquette and adherence to precautions of infection control and procedures of aerosol generation
PICOT Statement of Proposal
The population that is prone to flu infection cuts across all ages, from babies to older adults. Influenza infection does not attack a particular age group; thus, no age group is at a higher risk of contracting influenza than the other. However, the disease is more common during the fall, winter, and start of spring.
The intervention for controlling the contraction of flu infection is through vaccinations and transfers to flu-free areas, which reduces the risk of infection by statistically significant proportions. Some of the effective vaccines that can reduce the risk of contracting flu infection include cough etiquette and adherence to precautions of infection control and procedures of aerosol generation. Transfer of infected patients is mostly applied in the hospital setting. For community-acquired influenza, vaccination is the most appropriate to prevent the spread of flu to uninfected people. However, both interventions are applicable in both settings. NRS-490 Capstone Project & Literature Review: Treatment of Hypertension
In comparison to the people that have received the intervention, people who are either not vaccinated or are not separated from the infected people are at a high risk of acquiring the flu infection. The rate of spread for flu virus is high around confined places such as hospital wards, which can make the other patients contract hospital-acquired influenza. On the other hand, people who are not vaccinated against influenza are at risk of contracting it since their antibodies are not activated to safeguard them from acquiring flu infection.
Literature Search
The strategy of Literature Search Used
Researchers have done numerous studies on the problem of influenza. These studies are vital to creating the blueprint for successful management and control of influenza. The researchers first underline the need for the healthcare system to recognize that the problem needs addressing to ensure that hospitals remain a place for healing rather than an environment with a high risk of acquiring new infections. The search strategy to find sources with reliable information used keywords such as “influenza” or “flu” and “cough etiquette” and “infection control” or “healthcare-acquired infections.” A combination of keywords resulted in more relevant papers. The research material that was found using the keywords were assessed for credibility, validity, and relevance. Materials that were relevant to the topic, and which had substantial evidence were included in the research while materials that were irrelevant, or less credible were excluded. A combination of keywords resulted in more relevant papers.
Evaluation of the Literature
Materials that were relevant to the topic, and which had substantial evidence were included in the research while materials that were irrelevant, or less credible were excluded. For instance, Parkash et al. (2019) explore is “how single-centered examinations can influence management and care-delivery practices.” Similarly, Nekkab et al. (2017) discuss the problem of multi-drug resistant organisms in the healthcare setting and the spread of hospital-acquired diseases. Besides, Pless et al. (2017) sought to answer the question of why the nursing staff is resistant to influenza vaccination despite the condition being a significant source of health concern. Similarly, Edge, Goodwin, & Isba (2017) explores the attitudes that affect the acceptance of vaccination among healthcare personnel.
Applicable Change or Nursing Theory Utilized
Nursing practice is essential in the close monitoring of healthcare-associated infections is in the prevention of the occurrence and spread of flu virus. One of the applicable change that we propose is a vaccination which helps in providing artificial immunity to the uninfected people so that they are safeguarded from contracting the infection. Nurses should take vaccination against flu infection to safeguard themselves and the patients. Besides, the segregation of infected people from the uninfected through transfer helps to control the spread of the virus since it does not move unless it is propagated through the air.
Proposed Implementation with Outcome Measures
The outcome of nursing intervention and evidence-based research is measured through a reduction of the risks of outbreaks and the spread of flu virus. The outcome of vaccination in the prevention of contraction of the virus since vaccination strengthens immunity by activating the antibodies to fight the incoming virus. On the other hand, transferring patients to a flu-free area prevents them from contracting the virus from the infected people.
Potential Barriers to Plan Implementation
Nurses are usually reluctant to take vaccination against flu infection despite the condition being a significant source of health concern, which risks their health and the health of the patients whom they are treating. Since there is constant contact between patients and caregivers, the latter can easily act as a fatal agent for spreading the causative virus (Nekkab et al., 2017).
Conclusion
Influenza is highly contagious but also a significant cause of high mortality and morbidity rates across the globe. The viruses keep evolving, which means that vaccinations, too, have to be reformulated from time to time (Pless et al., 2017). These caregivers opined that their supervisors had not displayed the will to inform them thoroughly and offer viable recommendations that would increase rates of influenza vaccination among these workers. The nurses further lacked information on the implication of their decisions on the general healthcare environment; for example, they did not recognize that receiving this vaccination would protect vulnerable patients from contracting the condition. NRS-490 Capstone Project & Literature Review: Treatment of Hypertension
References
Nekkab, N., Astagneau, P., Temime, L., & Crépey, P. (2017). The spread of hospital-acquired infections: A comparison of healthcare networks. PLOS Computational Biology, 13(8). doi:10.1371/journal.pcbi.1005666. NRS-490 Capstone Project & Literature Review: Treatment of Hypertension
Parkash, N., Beckingham, W., Andersson, P., Kelly, P., Senanayake, S., & Coatsworth, N. (2019). Hospital-acquired influenza in an Australian tertiary Centre 2017: A surveillance-based study. BMC Pulmonary Medicine, 19(1). doi:10.1186/s12890-019-0842-6.
Pless, A., McLennan, S., Nicca, D., Shaw, D. M., Elger, B. S. (2017). Reasons why nurses decline influenza vaccination: A qualitative study. BMC Nursing, 16(20), 1-7. doi: 10.1186/s12912-017-0215-5
Pless, A., Shaw, D., Mclennan, S., & Elger, B. S. (2017). Nurses’ attitudes towards enforced measures to increase influenza vaccination: A qualitative study. Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses, 11(3), 247-253. doi:10.1111/irv.12441. NRS-490 Capstone Project & Literature Review: Treatment of Hypertension
Table 1
Nursing Theory
| Nursing Theorist: Anina Pless | |
| Basic Theory | Vaccination theory |
| Definition of theory | Vaccination helps in providing artificial immunity to the uninfected people so that they are safeguarded from contracting the infection |
| Relationship to patients | Vaccination helps the patients to be safe from flu infection |
| Assumptions or propositions | It is assumed that once a patient is vaccinated he/she cannot transmit infection |
| Phenomena of theory | It can be applied in the clinical setting |
Appendix A
Nursing Theory
| Nursing Theorist: Anina Pless | |
| Basic Theory | Vaccination theory |
| Definition of theory | Vaccination helps in providing artificial immunity to the uninfected people so that they are safeguarded from contracting the infection |
| Relationship to patients | Vaccination helps the patients to be safe from flu infection |
| Assumptions or propositions | It is assumed that once a patient is vaccinated he/she cannot transmit infection |
| Phenomena of theory | It can be applied in the clinical setting |
CLICK HERE TO ORDER NRS-490 Capstone Project & Literature Review: Treatment of Hypertension
NRS-490 Literature Review: Treatment of Hypertension
Introduction
Hypertension, also known as high blood disease pressure is a serious condition that ultimately results in damaging of blood vessels leaving an individual prone to heart attack, stroke, and other conditions. Various factors increase the likelihood of developing the disease they include obesity, consumption of a lot of salt, diabetes, smoking, alcohol intake among others. Globally, hypertension results in the death of millions of people, but with the right administration, the mortality rates can be reduced. Treatment of hypertension is diverse including lifestyle changes and treatment through drug therapy. Medication entails various drugs ranging from thiazide diuretics, Beta blockers, Angotenism- Converting enzymes (ACE), Calcium Channel Blockers among others. Lifestyle approach in the treatment of hypertension involves intake of healthy diets, quitting smoking, physical exercise, reducing alcohol intake, among others (Khatib, 2012). NRS-490 Capstone Project & Literature Review: Treatment of Hypertension
A Comparison of the Research Questions
Comparison falls into either a patient with hypertension using drugs to treat the hypertension or a lifestyle approach. Lifestyle modification is a crucial long-term step in the management of hypertension even in the presence of drug therapy and may reduce or even reduce the need for anti-hypertensive drugs. Also, lifestyle changes in the management of high blood pressure can be essential in treating other chronic illness. Lifestyle changes include eating dietary approaches which involve developing a healthy pattern as well as reducing salt intake. Furthermore, quitting smoking assists in reducing cardiovascular risks while reduced alcohol consumption results to lower systolic blood pressure in patients with hypertension. Physical exercise is critical in lowering systolic blood pressure (Huang, Duggan, & Harman, 2006). In contrast, patients can use drug therapy in the treatment of hypertension and help avoid cardiovascular within half a year. Diuretics are the most utilized drugs in the treatment of hypertension; the original anti-hypertensive drugs are vital in lowering the blood pressure and increasing the effectiveness of other antihypertensive agents. Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Blockers, Calcium Channel Blockers, Beta Blockers are also used in the treatment of diabetes (Williams, Lawerence, Fanorow, & Go, 2010). NRS-490 Capstone Project & Literature Review: Treatment of Hypertension
A comparison of sample populations
The sample population entails male grown-ups between the ages of 40-70 years who can either undertake drug therapy or lifestyle management of hypertension. Patients who undergo drug treatment have a low chance of suffering from cardiovascular risks compared to men who are not untreated. Use of antihypertensive drugs is crucial in treating level 2 and 3 of hypertension. Randomized clinical trials carried out on men have helps reduce the chance of stroke and coronary risks. Also, the use of evidence-based technology has also been vital in reducing the level of SBP and DBP making it possible to initiate medication. However, treatment of people within the age of 40-55 years differs with that of men between the ages of 55-70 years. In contrast, men who undertake lifestyle changes as a treatment method for hypertension have to put in place long-term strategies to ensure they adequately address the disease (Williams, Lawerence, Fanorow, & Go, 2010). Lifestyle changes might not be an effective method of treatment especially in serious condition and may require the incorporation of two or more anti-hypertensive drugs. Men between the ages of 40-50 year are suitable for this method, as most have the energy to take up regular physical exercises which are vital in the addressing the disease. Lifestyle changes for men involve changing eating habits, quitting smoking, reduced alcohol intake, sodium restriction among others (Huang, Duggan, & Harman, 2006).
A comparison of limitation of study
The research on the effectiveness of both the use of drug therapy and lifestyle modification in the treatment of hypertension has limitations. One, Drug therapy entails the use of various drugs which make it difficult to determine the effectiveness of each medication used in the treatment of the disease. Also, the presence of other existing ailments in some of the patients makes it hard to determine the effectiveness of most anti-hypertensive in the treatment of hypertension since most are also administered to treat the conditions as well. The outcomes of lifestyle changes in the treatment and management of hypertension are impossible to measure as they are long no tangible methods to indicate proof of the changes. Lastly, on some occasions, patients have to be administered with anti-hypertensive which makes it difficult to determine the effectiveness of lifestyle changes as the treatment method for hypertension. NRS-490 Capstone Project & Literature Review: Treatment of Hypertension
Conclusion
Hypertension is among the leading causes of heart attacks, strokes, and other complications. With the right interventions in place, the disease can be managed and treated; hypertension treatment takes into account two forms of treatment including the use of anti-hypertensive drugs as well as lifestyle modifications. Anti-hypertensive drugs used include diuretics, angiotensin, converting enzymes blockers, beta blockers among others each of the drugs work differently, but all ultimately result in lowering the blood pressure. Lifestyle changes are also crucial in management and treatment of the disease especially in reducing cardiovascular risks and lowering the blood pressure. I recommend the research to utilize different studies and findings from other research carried out in the past to elaborate the differences and effectiveness of the methods in the treatment of high blood pressure.
References
Huang, N., Duggan, K., & Harman, J. (2006). Lifestyle Management of Hypertension. Australian Prescriber, 150-156.
Khatib, O. M. (2012). Clinical Guideline for the Management of Hypertension. New York: World Health Organization.
Williams, K. A., Lawerence, W., Fanorow, G. C., & Go, A. S. (2010). An Effective Approach to High Blood Pressure Control. American Heart Association, 885-894. NRS-490 Capstone Project & Literature Review: Treatment of Hypertension