Assessing the Problem- Leadership, Collaboration, Communication, Change Management, and Policy Considerations
Part 1: Defining the Patient Health Problem
Summary of the Problem: COVID-19
COVID-19, a worldwide pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, remains a top health issue globally, affecting all people regardless of their age, ethnicity, and occupation, among others. The most vulnerable are patients with the following health conditions: respiratory illnesses, compromised immune systems, or older people. Its symptoms include mild respiratory illness and severe pneumonia, which often results in hospitalization and death. The virus made public health measures, such as social distancing, mask mandates, and vaccination campaigns, more critical than ever to stop the spread of the virus (Ciotti et al., 2020). This causes healthcare professionals, especially nurses, to be worried, as they are responsible for patient care and public health management.
Patient Information
Through the practicum, I will work with Elsa Lucy, a 62-year-old lady who is my patient. Elsa has been diagnosed with hypertension and COPD. She stays alone and manages her condition by taking her medications as recommended and visiting her primary care physician occasionally.
Context and Significance
Elsa’s example illustrates how COVID-19 might exacerbate pre-existing medical issues, leading to a worsening of the illness in the event that an infection occurs. Numerous studies indicate that the probability of worse outcomes caused by COVID-19 is higher among people with COPD due to poor respiratory performance and a weakened immune system. (Ciotti et al., 2020). Besides, older people, such as Elsa, are quite vulnerable to the age-related decrease in immune function and possible comorbidities.
The healthcare implications of this problem are the impact on the patient’s well-being and public health and healthcare systems. This is exemplified by the specialized knowledge, skills, and practicalities nurses require to provide exceptional nursing care resources to ensure patients like Emily get the best care during the pandemic (Ciotti et al., 2020). This covers the spectrum of assessment, documentation of symptoms, and imparting the necessary health information prevention, treatment, and monitoring to the students, facilitating access to adequate healthcare.
Relevance to Baccalaureate-Prepared Nursing Practice
As a baccalaureate-prepared nurse, addressing the challenges posed by COVID-19 aligns with the core principles of holistic patient care, evidence-based practice, and health promotion. The issue of COVID-19 needs the use of leadership, collaboration, communication, and change management skills to adjust to the changing conditions, speak out for patients, and be part of public health projects (Omer et al., 2020). By bringing Elsa’s case to the forefront, nurses can bridge the gap between theory and practical experience to enhance patient outcomes and contribute to the broader aim of reducing the impact of the pandemic.
Analyzing Nursing Actions Related to COVID-19: Insights from Literature
Peer-reviewed literature and professional sources provide helpful information for nursing actions related to COVID-19. Infection control measures, patient education, and symptom management are key factors in reducing the spread and impact of the virus (Omer et al., 2020). Researchers such as Omer et al. (2020) have provided proven evidence of the effectiveness of hand hygiene, mask-wearing, and vaccination in decreasing transmission rates, thus safeguarding the vulnerable population.
In my nursing practice, I regularly see the correlation between the guidelines adopted from research and the actions taken in the healthcare facilities. Firstly, using personal protective equipment (PPE) and the isolation precautions protocols are similar to evidence-based guidelines discussed in scholarly journals. This concordance between research findings and clinical practice illustrates the significance of research in practical clinical situations. The quality of the data in the literature can be determined using critical appraisal methods such as the study design, sample size, and methodological rigor (Sharma et al., 2020). Some indications that the research findings may be unreliable include biased sampling methods, weak statistical analyses, and conflicts of interest among the authors.
The difficulties of EBP in the fight against the coronavirus include the need for more resources, organizational culture, and the reluctance to accept change. Recent research has drawn attention to the disadvantages of searching for the latest evidence, managing competing priorities, and breaking institutional inertia (Sharma et al., 2020). These difficulties are surpassed by using complex strategies such as leaders’ support, staff education, and infrastructure improvement.
Many research studies continue to evaluate nursing standards and policies in terms of accelerating positive outcomes from COVID-19. In this context, patient triage protocols, treatment algorithms, and discharge planning are widely viewed as modifying mortality and morbidity rates. The results, therefore, elaborate on the role of state-of-the-art policies in terms of quality provision and optimum resource utilization (Sharma et al., 2020).
Policy-making issues related to nurses’ involvement in policy formulation generate an agenda for urgent action in shaping public health strategies and modifying health service delivery models. Nurses possess knowledge in various aspects of forums such as health promotion, disease prevention, and care coordination, hence their advocacy for policies that give leakage priority to patients and overall community well-being (Buheji et al., 2020).
The health belief model in nursing theories, or hundreds of conceptual frameworks, plays an integral part in deciding actions in practicum. The health beliefs model focuses on how people perceive health threats and consequently engage in preventive behaviors. The social-ecological model also has a framework that covers how various factors, from individual to interpersonal, community to broader society, affect health outcomes and which factors are most important to an intervention program (Buheji & Buhaid, 2020). Introducing these precepts can tantalize into practice to craft reasonable interventions to avert COVID-19 and improve the population’s health status.
Impact of Nursing Practice Standards and Policies on Addressing COVID-19
The state board of nursing standards and governmental policies regulate the response to COVID-19 and its implications for patient care. These regulations are standards of care, which are the guidelines for infection control, patient management, and healthcare delivery that have been developed by care institutions and influence nursing at both the individual and institutional levels (Nicola et al., 2020). Moreover, through policies, the government and the administration are the determinants of resource allocation, staff quantity, and emergency plans, respectively.
Research is being carried out to assess the efficiency of nursing standards and policies in enhancing COVID-19 outcomes. Several studies have examined the effects of protocols dealing with patient triage, treatment algorithms, and discharge planning on morbidity and mortality rates. The results prove that the policy guided by the evidence is a critical factor in improving care quality and the efficient use of resources (Sharma et al., 2020).
The literature on nurses’ participation in policy-making stresses their ability to impact public health strategies and healthcare delivery models. Nurses provide their expertise in health promotion, disease prevention, and care coordination; they also work on policies aimed at patient safety and the well-being of the community (Buheji & Buhaid, 2020).
Nursing theories or conceptual frameworks that could guide my actions during my practicum include the Health Belief Model, which is a model that investigates the perceptions of the health threat from individuals and their probability of performing preventive behaviors. Besides, the Social Ecological Model provides a framework for analyzing the factors at the individual, interpersonal, community, and societal levels responsible for the health outcomes and that, in turn, influence the intervention strategies (Buheji & Buhaid, 2020). Combining these theories into practice can improve the outcome of interventions meant for the fight against COVID-19 and population health enhancement.
Numerous studies have assessed the efficiency of these standards and policies in enhancing the results for COVID-19 patients. The studies have studied the impact of state-level requirements on mask-wearing, social distancing, and vaccination rates and found the correlations between policy implementation and the decrease in infection rates and hospitalizations (Nicola et al., 2020). Moreover, adherence to the nursing practice standards based on the evidence that professional organizations like the American Nurses Association have put up has been proven to be the reason for the improvement in patient outcomes and the decrease in the mortality rate among COVID-19 patients (Panteli & Maier, 2021).
Nurses are the key people in the process of policy-making that is related to COVID-19 and public health outcomes. The existing studies stress the nurses’ advocacy work in lobbying for the legislative measures that will help to make health care more accessible, increase the testing and vaccination programs, and diminish the inequalities in underserved populations (Buheji & Buhaid, 2020). Through their clinical knowledge and frontline experiences, nurses bring up important points that help in the decision-making process regarding the policies and evidence-based strategies for preventing diseases and reducing hospital readmissions.
The local, state, and federal policies or legislation are the major factors limiting the nurses’ scope of practice in COVID-19. These regulations, among others, deal with license requirements, scope of practice limitations, and reimbursement mechanisms, thus enabling nurses to provide patients with timely and effective care. For example, emergency declarations at the state or federal level may be temporary suspensions of certain practice restrictions or the deployment of nurses across the states to solve the staff shortage in COVID-19 hotspots (Panteli & Maier, 2021). On the other hand, adjustments in reimbursement policies or healthcare financing models may affect nurses’ ability to provide complete care and get the resources needed for patient management.
Leadership Strategies for Enhancing COVID-19 Patient Outcomes and Experience
Suggesting the best leadership strategies is of the highest importance to bring about better results, patient-centered care, and the overall experience of the people affected by COVID-19. Studies show that transformational leadership’s effectiveness in managing health crises like pandemics is confirmed (Kaul et al., 2020). Transformational leaders motivate and enable teams, create new ideas, and place patient safety and wellbeing at the top of their priorities.
Several main components determine leadership’s task in dealing with the COVID-19 problem. First and foremost, the leaders must be the chief instructors, setting an example and coordinating the implementation of evidence-based practices and protocols for clinical practices, patient management, and resource allocation. However, ultimately, they are to craft an atmosphere that would encourage resilience and adaptability among the staff, and these attributes are indeed reassuring and beneficial given the difficulties that are yet to come (Kaul et al., 2020).
During a pandemic, cooperation and communication among the response activities are the most important factors to consider. Leaders of healthcare organizations should encourage nurses, doctors, specialists, other health professionals, and public health authorities to act within the developed interdisciplinary collaboration framework. With a transparent communication system, frontline staff in healthcare settings can highlight their concerns, react quickly to issues, and confirm that the respective measures have been taken.
Change processes are central to preparing for pandemic response in any dynamic environment, including COVID-19. Factors confronting large-scale implementation are resistance to new plans, staff exhaustion, and inadequate resources. They also need to know how to develop solutions that overcome these barriers (Kaul et al., 2020). For instance, the engagement of stakeholders in decision-making processes, providing them with education and training, and using technology to automate the workflows are the top effective change management strategies.
Part 2: Documentation of the practicum hours
During the two practicum hours, I will use Elsa Lucy, a 62-year-old female patient who is suffering from hypertension and COPD. Elsa oversees her illness with regular medication and some non-medical consultations with her primary care doctor. Our communications with Elsa will be centered on offering the needed support and information on COPD management, hypertension control, and COVID-19 prevention, which are her medical issues. I intend to spend the two practicum hours on patient-centered activities with Elsa. In this case, I will carry out the respiratory status and blood pressure readings, as well as the general health status by heart condition through the assessments. Besides, I will be teaching COPD exacerbation prevention, medication adherence, and lifestyle modifications to manage hypertension, as well as the strategies to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission.
Since Elsa lives alone, I will also look into the social support networks and community resources that she may use. This may be because people with COPD cannot be together without spending time with their families. This will lead to the talk of home healthcare services, support groups for people with COPD, and strategies for maintaining social contacts while following COVID-19 safety guidelines. During all our contact, I will focus on open communication, empathy, and cultural sensitivity to allow Elsa to feel that her health is being taken care of and that she is being guided correctly. I will pay attention to her worries, answer her questions, clear any doubts she may have, and, together with her, make a care plan that suits her completely.
References
Buheji, M., & Buhaid, N. (2020). Nursing human factor during the COVID-19 pandemic. Int J Nurs Sci, 10(1), 12-24.
Ciotti, M., Ciccozzi, M., Terrinoni, A., Jiang, W. C., Wang, C. B., & Bernardini, S. (2020). The COVID-19 pandemic. Critical reviews in clinical laboratory sciences, 57(6), 365-388. https://doi.org/10.1080/10408363.2020.1783198
Kaul, V., Shah, V. H., & El-Serag, H. (2020). Leadership during crisis: lessons and applications from the COVID-19 pandemic. Gastroenterology, 159(3), 809-812. https://doi.org/10.1053/j.gastro.2020.04.076
Nicola, M., Sohrabi, C., Mathew, G., Kerwan, A., Al-Jabir, A., Griffin, M., … & Agha, R. (2020). Health policy and leadership models during the COVID-19 pandemic: A review. International journal of surgery, 81, 122-129. 10.1016/j.ijsu.2020.07.026
Omer, S. B., Malani, P., & Del Rio, C. (2020). The COVID-19 pandemic in the US: a clinical update. Jama, 323(18), 1767-1768. 10.1001/jama.2020.5788
Panteli, D., & Maier, C. B. (2021). Regulating the health workforce in Europe: implications of the COVID-19 pandemic. Human Resources for Health, 19, 1-6. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12960-021-00624-w
Sharma, R. P., Pohekar, S. B., & Ankar, R. S. (2020). Role of a nurse in the COVID-19 pandemic. J Evol Med Dent Sci, 9(35), 2550-5.
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. 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.
ORDER A PLAGIARISM-FREE PAPER HERE
We’ll write everything from scratch
Question 
Collapse All
Introduction
This assessment lays the foundation for the work that will carry you through your capstone experience and guide the practicum hours needed to complete the work in this course. In addition, it will enable you to do the following:
Develop a problem statement for a patient, family, or population that’s relevant to your practice.
Begin building a body of evidence that will inform your approach to your practicum.
Assessing the Problem- Leadership, Collaboration, Communication, Change Management, and Policy Considerations
Focus on the influence of leadership, collaboration, communication, change management, and policy on the problem.
Preparation
In this assessment, you’ll assess the patient, family, or population health problem that will be the focus of your capstone project. Plan to spend approximately 2 hours working with a patient, family, or group of your choice to explore the problem from a leadership, collaboration, communication, change management, and policy perspective. During this time, you may also choose to consult with the subject matter and industry experts about the problem (for example, directors of quality or patient safety, nurse managers/directors, physicians, and epidemiologists).
To prepare for the assessment, complete the following:
Identify the patient, family, or group you want to work with during your practicum. The patient you select can be a friend or a family member. You’ll work with this patient, family, or group throughout your capstone project, focusing on a specific healthcare problem.
Begin surveying the scholarly and professional literature to establish your evidence and research base, inform your assessment, and meet scholarly expectations for supporting evidence.
In addition, you may wish to complete the following:
Review the assessment instructions and scoring guide to ensure that you understand the work you’ll be asked to complete and how it will be assessed.
Review the Practicum Focus Sheet: Assessment 1 [PDF] Download Practicum Focus Sheet: Assessment 1 [PDF], which provides guidance for conducting this portion of your practicum.
Note: As you revise your writing, check out the resources listed on the Writing Center’s Writing Support page.
Instructions
Complete this assessment in two parts.
Part 1
Use Assessment 01 Supplement: Assessing the Problem: Leadership, Collaboration, Communication, Change Management, and Policy Considerations [PDF] Download Assessment 01 Supplement: Assessing the Problem: Leadership, Collaboration, Communication, Change Management, and Policy Considerations [PDF]to 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 and establish your evidence and research base to plan, implement, and share findings related to your project.
Part 2
Connect with the patient, family, or group you’ll work with during your practicum. During this portion of your practicum, plan to spend at least 2 hours meeting with the patient, family, or group and, if desired, consulting with subject matter and industry experts of your choice. The hours you spend meeting with them should take place outside of regular work hours. Use the Practicum Focus Sheet [PDF] Download the Practicum Focus Sheet [PDF]provided for this assessment to guide your work and interpersonal interactions. Document the time spent (your practicum hours) with these individuals or groups in the Capella Academic Portal Volunteer Experience Form.