Feedback and Participation in Change Management in Nursing

Hypertension Management

Background Information and Practice Problem in Hypertension

Hypertension is a prevalent chronic condition and one of the health problems that contributes to the global burden of cardiovascular diseases (Zhou et al., 2021). It is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the world, with an estimated 1.13 billion people affected every year (Zhou et al., 2021). If hypertension goes uncontrolled there can be severe health complications such as stroke, heart attack, heart failure, and kidney disease. Yet, even though there exist ways of treating hypertension, too many people go undiagnosed and untreated (Fuchs & Whelton, 2020).

Practice Problem in Hypertension

Managing hypertension effectively depends on knowledge and patient adherence to care plan. The big obstacles to effective treatment are inconsistency and disinterest. Some of this can be characterized by inconsistent blood pressure measurement practices, lack of adherence to clinical guidelines, inadequate patient education, and insufficient follow-up care (Marseille et al., 2021). The result of these common deficiencies is a suboptimal patient outcome, increased risk for the patient, and inevitably increased healthcare costs. To address these issues should be a focus of the healthcare community, but it requires adopting a committed evidence-based approach coupled with person-centered care. With the right focus, hypertension management practices within healthcare can be improved. The approach should include attention to lifestyle modification support, medication adherence strategies, and regular monitoring (Pruette & Amaral, 2021).

Critical Analysis of Organizational Issues

The practice problem of hypertension management is a serious issue for healthcare due to the persistent failure to implement consistent practices in blood pressure measurement and management, which causes less than desirable patient outcomes and higher, more frequent hospital readmissions (Jacobs et al., 2022). The lack of standardized patient education and follow-up care is another large contributor to the problem. These are serious issues that require attention because the put the patient at risk for greater health problems down the road and they represent what turns into a major financial burden on the organization and the state (Zhou et al., 2021).

There is thus a clear need for more standardized hypertension management practices in healthcare management. First off, consistent and accurate blood pressure measurement is a must in any effective hypertension management care plan or approach (John et al., 2021). Nurses and patients also need to realize the importance of adhering to clinical guidelines and treatment plans in order to improve patient outcomes (Pruette & Amaral, 2021). To achieve a lasting positive impact on this health issue, health institutions and organizations should be focused on addressing the organizational issues that stand in the way of improving quality care with regards to patients with hypertension.

Project Description

The project focuses on preventive care and chronic disease management by showing the need for a standardized hypertension management protocol within the organization. This protocol should consist of evidence-based practices for blood pressure measurement, patient education, lifestyle modification support, medication management, and follow-up care. The primary goal here is to improve patient outcomes by providing consistent, high-quality care for patients with hypertension.

Communicating Patient Care Standards

Patient care standards will be communicated based on the guidelines established by accreditation, regulatory, and quality agencies such as the Joint Commission, the American Heart Association (AHA), and the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). These standards exist because of how important it is to have accurate blood pressure measurement, and how helpful patient education can be in terms of raising health literacy and empowering the patient to engage in self-care; all this, too, contributes to improved adherence to clinical guidelines. For example, the AHA's guidelines on hypertension management give detailed, evidence-based recommendations for the processes of diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up care for patients with hypertension. Industry-wide standards already exist; it is just a matter of healthcare organizations implementing them and getting their nurses to use them in managing care with patients.

Evidence Supporting the Need for the Project

Several studies support the need for standardized hypertension management practices within healthcare organizations. John et al. (2021) show that implementing a standardized protocol for blood pressure measurement and management can definitely improve patient outcomes, prevent conditions from worsening into other morbidities, and reduce the burden of disease. Pruette and Amaral (2021) have shown the effectiveness of patient education and follow-up care in controlling hypertension and how patient empowerment gives incredible support to care plan adherence. These studies represent the strength of existing evidence calling for healthcare to take the steps to implement standardized practices to improve hypertension management.

Tool to be Implemented: AHRQ Teach-Back Method

The AHRQ Teach-Back Method will be implemented as a tool for patient education. This method works because it follows in the ancient tradition of Socratic education: the nurse explains the information, then asks the patient questions about just as a teacher would ask a student to gauge comprehension. The practice allows patients to explain back the information the nurse has given to them. The patients put the information in their own words, showing that they understand it. This gives the patient confidence that he has the knowledge to proceed and to follow the necessary steps to manage the condition. The Teach-Back Method is simple in concept but effective in practice (Talevski et al., 2021).

Vision for the Project

The vision for this project is to create a standardized, evidence-based hypertension management protocol that can be consistently applied across the organization. This protocol will include best practices for blood pressure measurement, patient education, medication management, and follow-up care. The goal is to improve patient outcomes, reduce hospital readmissions, empower patients, and increase the overall quality of care for patients with hypertension.

Inspire Desired Behaviors and Manage Undesired Behaviors

To inspire desired behaviors, the project will focus on educating both patients and staff about the importance of accurate blood pressure measurement, adherence to treatment plans, lifestyle management, and regular follow-up care. Incentives to be applied could be items such as recognition and rewards to motivate staff to adopt and adhere to the new protocol.

To manage undesired behaviors, the project will call for a change management approach consisting of regular audits and feedback sessions. Any deviations from the protocol will have to be addressed with a sense of urgency, and additional training will have to be given or mandated as needed. The goal here is to create a culture of accountability and continuous improvement within the organization.

Staff Engagement

Staff engagement is going to be very important if there is going to be any successful implementation of the project. To obtain full participation and support from care providers, staff will be involved in the planning and implementation phases of the project, as is called for by all serious change management theories and approaches (Harrison et al., 2021). Regular training sessions and workshops to educate staff about the new protocol and the importance of standardized hypertension management practices will be recommended, and staff will be encouraged to leave feedback and suggestions for improvement.

Monitoring Project Outcomes

Project outcomes will be monitored using blood pressure control rates, patient adherence to treatment plans (obtained via survey), and hospital readmission rates. Regular audits will be conducted to assess the level of adherence to the protocol. Patient feedback (via survey or phone interview) may also be collected to evaluate the effectiveness of the Teach-Back Method.