Assessing the Problem – Leadership, Collaboration, Communication, Change Management, and Policy Considerations

Assessing the Problem – Leadership, Collaboration, Communication, Change Management, and Policy Considerations

Part One: Relevant Health Problem

Summary of the Patient’s Health Problem: Anxiety

Anxiety disorders represent a range of mental health conditions classified by excessive fear, nervousness, or worry that can impede an individual’s functioning as well as the quality of life (Muskin, 2023). These disorders can include GAD (generalized anxiety disorder), panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, specific phobias, and others. People with anxiety disorders experience recurring and overwhelming feelings of apprehension, tension, and unease, which may sometimes be accompanied by physical symptoms such as rapid heartbeat, sweating, shaking hands, and difficulty concentrating. Without proper treatment, anxiety disorders affect multiple aspects of a person’s life, including work, personal relationships, and a person’s general well-being.

Patient Selection

This capstone project will focus on Jasmine Carter (pseudonym), a 32-year-old Black American female. Jasmine’s demographic background represents a group that is usually ignored and which is disproportionately affected by mental health challenges. As someone who lives with her mother and her husband, her experiences of balancing family obligations and societal expectations are significant in terms of identifying the complexity of the problems causing her anxiety disorder. Jasmine’s tendency to seek help and intervention indicated proactivity in addressing her mental health care, which speaks to good readiness for entering into the therapeutic process. This selection aligns with my commitment as a baccalaureate-prepared nurse to lessen mental health inequalities, achieve access equity for care, and promote culturally sensitive services. This collaborative work with Jasmine and her family will complement the knowledge of holistic care delivery and will be favorable toward the achievement of good health for diverse patients.

Context, Data, and Significance to the Patient

Jasmine’s anxiety disorder is situated in the larger social and family context that has an impact on her lived experiences. Being a Black American woman, Jasmine stands at the crossroads of race, gender, and class, which can adversely affect her mental health. Research in multiple study lines often points to mental health disparities among Black Americans (Schueller et al., 2019). These disparities are mainly based on historical trauma, systemic racism, and limited access to culturally competent care. In addition, her role as a mother and a caregiver within a household increases the stress and burden, leading to the worsening of anxiety. Knowing the situational factors that affect her mental health is vital for a comprehensive and contextualized treatment that is culturally aligned with her needs.

Black Americans’ poor mental health statistics show why Jasmine’s anxiety disorder has to be treated. Notably, Black people are less likely to receive mental health care compared to their White peers, although they have equal or higher levels of mental health problems. In addition, the stigma attached to mental health in the Black community makes people tend to underreport and be reluctant to seek care, which furthers the gap in access to healthcare services (Ahad et al., 2023). In addition to benefiting her as an individual, treating her anxiety disorder also leads to a reduction of mental health disparities and the promotion of health equity in the marginalized population.

The purpose of Jasmine’s anxiety disorder treatment is not just to achieve individual health outcomes but also to affect society at a broader level. Through culturally competent care and systemically addressing barriers to mental health access, nurses are at the forefront of achieving health equity and social justice. Also, improving mental health for individuals like Jasmine influences family communication, community cohesion, and community health. Hence, assuring Jasmine’s anxiety disorder complies with the ethical principles of the nursing profession, which involve equity, advocacy, and a holistic approach for all individuals regardless of their social background.

Relevance to Baccalaureate-Prepared Nursing Practice

Jasmine’s anxiety disorder has a high applicability to the baccalaureate-prepared nursing practice as it highlights the need for providing comprehensive, evidence-based care that attends to the complex needs of patients with different backgrounds. As a baccalaureate nurse, it is about gaining the knowledge and skills needed to assess, plan, and implement interventions for mental health promotion across the lifespan, as indicated by Singh et al. (2022). Interacting with Jasmine and her family presents the possibility of applying the ideas and skills acquired through the course and clinical work to the actual practice. It includes the use of therapeutic communication techniques, doing the holistic assessment, and working with an interdisciplinary team to devise a patient-centered care plan that will address her distinct needs and wishes.

In addition, it is imperative to relate her anxiety disorder to the fundamental values of baccalaureate nursing education that advocate for health equity, cultural competence, and social justice. A bachelor of science degree in nursing prepares nurses to identify and challenge systemic barriers that perpetuate health disparities and inequalities by lobbying for policies and practices that promote equal access to quality health care for all (Singh et al., 2022). Through the partnership with Jasmine and her family, it is possible to champion culturally sensitive practice as well as to be a part of inclusive healthcare communities that highly value the mental health of marginalized people.

Evidence Analysis

Peer-reviewed literature and professional resources offer broadly developed instructions concerning nursing strategies related to anxiety disorders. Research regularly recommends evidence-based treatments like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness-based techniques, and medication as vital means of dealing with anxiety. Nevertheless, obstacles facing the implementation of evidence-based practice (EBP) in anxiety care include reduced access to mental health services, culture stigma, and provider prejudice. Research has also identified the role of nurses in the policy-making processes as important in enhancing mental health outcomes and narrowing the divide in access to care.

A study by Chand et al. (2021) highlights the delicate interplay between neurophysiological states, cognitive appraisals, and behavioral responses that are characteristically present in anxiety disorders. It borrows concepts from other models, such as the DSM-5, and stresses the multidimensional nature of anxiety symptoms, which include cognitive, physiological, behavioral, and affective aspects. The debate on medical management highlights the necessity of using both pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy, which emphasizes evidence-based interventions such as SSRIs, SNRIs, and cognitive-behavioral therapy, among others. Nursing management approaches are highlighted by a holistic assessment, patient education, medication administration, and support group facilitation. Barriers to the practical implementation of evidence-based practice in this area may include limited resources, the unwillingness to change, and different qualification levels among healthcare providers.

Yoder et al. (2024) illustrate a practical way of caring for a family with mental issues—the principles of integrated care and family-based treatment (FBT) are advocated in nursing practice. It highlights the necessity of taking family dynamics into account as well as having coordinated and effective interventions for caregivers and children. A multimodal approach is taken by including CBT, parent management training (PMT), and medication management in the treatment process. The hurdles in implementing evidence-based practice in family-based treatment might consist of resource constraints, accessibility problems, and systemic issues in healthcare systems.

State Board Nursing Practice Standards and Policies

State nursing boards’ guidelines for practice and governmental regulatory efforts contribute significantly to mental healthcare delivery, among which is the management of anxiety disorders (American Nurses Association, 2020). These regulations and policies offer grounds for nursing practice, specifying the boundaries of practice, professional responsibilities, and safe and effective service delivery guidelines. For instance, state nursing board practice standards often outline educational and licensure expectations for nurses so that they have adequate knowledge and competency to treat persons with mental illnesses. Furthermore, these standards might determine the range of nursing interventions allowed in the context of anxiety management, for example, conducting assessments, implementing therapeutic interventions, and collaborating with other healthcare professionals.

In addition, governmental policies at the local, state, and federal levels impact the availability of mental health services and form a basis for the accessibility and availability of resources for people with anxiety disorders. Policies related to healthcare funding, insurance coverage, and reimbursement mechanisms influence the provision of mental health care. They determine the availability of outpatient counseling services, psychiatric medications, and funding for community-based mental health programs, among other factors. Additionally, legal measures that target mental health equity and stigma reduction of mental illnesses affect the care received by people with anxiety disorders, allowing them to become more available for treatment and support services.

Leadership Strategies

Efficient leadership strategies will improve the results and family-centered care in the treatment of anxiety disorders. The transformational leadership style, which involves inspiration, intellectual stimulation, and individualized consideration, can ultimately create an atmosphere that is supportive and empowering for people with anxiety (Bornman & Louw, 2023). Nurses may take the leadership role in interdisciplinary team formation, enabling collaboration among healthcare professionals and promoting communication channels to provide holistic and patient-centered care to all patients. Furthermore, leadership techniques should emphasize evidence-based practices, ongoing quality improvement activities, and patient education programs as critical cogs of a system put in place to improve treatment effectiveness and achieve good outcomes for anxiety patients. Taking anticipatory and innovative approaches to leadership, nurses can initiate positive change, indulge patients emotionally, and optimize health outcomes in the management of anxiety disorders.

Part Two: Documenting Practicum Hours

In the course of a two-hour practicum, I will work with Jasmine, a black American female struggling with anxiety. I opted for Jasmine’s case because it is similar to the mental health issue I will focus on in my capstone project. As a result of this cooperation, my objective is to take a closer look at her feelings concerning anxiety management, requirements, and desires. Conveying the importance of anxiety to Jasmine will imply empathetic communication, making sure that anxiety is highlighted regarding her daily existence and well-being. To work efficiently with her, I will have to demonstrate active listening, empathy, and cultural sensitivity. Possible obstacles could be her refusal to acknowledge her anxiety or her doubt about the available treatment options. I will use motivational interviewing to overcome these barriers and supply the patient with evidence-based information regarding the efficiency of anxiety management strategies, which will encourage her to act.

References

Ahad, A. A., Sanchez-Gonzalez, M., & Junquera, P. (2023). Understanding and addressing mental health stigma across cultures for improving psychiatric care: A narrative review. Cureus, 15(5). https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.39549

American Nurses Association. (2020). Ethics and human rights. ANA. https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/nursing-excellence/ethics/

Bornman, J., & Louw, B. (2023). Leadership development strategies in interprofessional healthcare collaboration: A rapid review. Journal of Healthcare Leadership, 15(1), 175–192. https://doi.org/10.2147/JHL.S405983

Chand, S. P., Marwaha, R., & Bender, R. M. (2021). Anxiety (Nursing). PubMed; StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK568761/

Muskin, P. R. (2023, June). What are anxiety disorders? American Psychiatric Association. https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/anxiety-disorders/what-are-anxiety-disorders#:~:text=Generalized%20anxiety%20disorder%20involves%20persistent

Schueller, S. M., Hunter, J. F., Figueroa, C., & Aguilera, A. (2019). Use of digital mental health for marginalized and underserved populations. Current Treatment Options in Psychiatry, 6(3), 243–255. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40501-019-00181-z

Singh, V., Kumar, A., & Gupta, S. (2022). Mental health prevention and promotion—A narrative review. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 13(13). https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.898009

Yoder, R., Michaud, A., Feagans, A., Hinton-Froese, K. E., Meyer, A., Powers, V. A., Stalnaker, L., & Hord, M. K. (2024). Family-based treatment for anxiety, depression, and ADHD for a parent and child. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21(4), 504. https://doi.org/10.3390/

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In a 5–7 page written assessment, define the patient, family, or population health problem that will be the focus of your capstone project. Assess the problem from a leadership, collaboration, communication, change management, and policy perspective.

Assessing the Problem – Leadership, Collaboration, Communication, Change Management, and Policy Considerations

Plan to spend approximately 2 direct practicum hours meeting with a patient, family, or group of your choice to explore the problem and, if desired, consulting with subject matter and industry experts. Document the time spent (your practicum hours) with these individuals or groups in the Capella Academic Portal Volunteer Experience Form.