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NURS 8002 Blog The DNP-Prepared Nurse and Their Community

NURS 8002 Blog The DNP-Prepared Nurse and Their Community

NURS 8002 Blog The DNP-Prepared Nurse and Their Community

A DNP-prepared nurse engages in various aspects of care to improve patient outcomes. One of such is advocacy. A DNP-prepared nurse can be an advocate for the patients, the profession, and communities. Therefore, it is vital to enact personal and professional commitment for advocacy that can bring positive impacts (Chism, 2021). As an individual and a professional, I envision using the knowledge and skills I have acquired to influence policy decisions affecting my patients, the community, and the profession. With the knowledge obtained, I will use an expert’s voice to influence legislators to pass favorable regulations and laws. Besides, I plan to assume leadership roles at influential leadership roles that can positively influence care decisions to support positive health outcomes among patients and communities and promote the nursing profession. For example, taking up leadership roles that would enable me to sit at the State Board of Nurses to be in a position to influence decisions.

Christian values are essential to embody in all aspects of life. While GCU utilizes these values as a foundational component for educational standards, these should also be standard for how students are influenced in their academic performance as well. Academic dishonesty, which is the opposite of academic integrity, plagues all academic levels. There are several reasons why I think students are tempted into dishonesty including pressure for success, lack of understanding about what constitutes plagiarism, and not fully understanding the entire process of academia. Integrity is the intrinsic belief to do the right thing even when no one is watching and is an essential value of the Christian doctrine.

When students believe and practice integrity, they will be able to apply this outside of the classroom and to other aspects of life. If students are engaging in academic dishonesty, this may be suggestive of a lack of integrity outside of the classroom as well. Lack of integrity is one example of the brokenness seen in society today. It shows a desire for success regardless of the means to get there or if there was any actual self-growth in the achievement of success. Having an educational infrastructure based on Christian values will not only foster academic success but will support students to apply these values beyond the classroom and become a part of their daily lives.

A DNP-prepared nurse also contributes to advocacy for positive social change in several ways. One way to contribute to advocacy for positive social change is through conducting innovative research (Mathieson et al., 2019). With the research skills obtained as a DNP-prepared nurse, I will be able to conduct and understand specific care aspects of various communities, especially the marginalized and vulnerable communities, identify opportunities for positive social change and help trigger the necessary strategies for the change (De Chesnay & Anderson, 2019). I will also seek to partner and collaborate with various community interest groups and offer expert service for fuelling positive social change. In such an environment, one of the roles I can undertake is helping the groups to formulate advocacy plans and help them implement the plans. Therefore, DNP-prepared nurses play a critical role in advocacy for patients, communities, and the profession in addition to a positive social change.

NURS 8002 Blog The DNP-Prepared Nurse and Their Community

Vaccine and immunization legislation.

Nutritional assistance programs for school youths.

Diabetes education for elderly outpatients in a community health clinic.

Reducing the number of re-admits of patients who have had outpatient procedures.

Reducing the number of patient falls on a medical/surgical hospital floor.

Photo Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto

I agree something needs to be done for both those issues. Essential II: Organizational and Systems Leadership for Quality Improvement and Systems Thinking allows the DNP graduate nurse to review and help amend policy within the system (American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 2006).  For those eloping patients, there has to be a whole in the system of the organization that is allowing them to leave.  At my current facility, there are different levels of sitters.  For those that are at an elopement risk, they would require a higher level sitter, trained to handle these types of psych patients. Security is also notified for those who are not assigned to the psych unit.  The security would round on those who have been placed on a regular Med-Surg floor because those floors are not locked down.

We also have a behavior health code.  Our employees have a button on our badge that when pressed sends out an alert.  It knows our location based on the position of our badge and will echo the call to that area.  The facility that I work at now has a great number of patients going through withdrawal.  The changes to their system were necessary for this population of patients. Your facility will have to change its system thinking to prepare for this new population of patients.

Reference

American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2006). The essentials of doctoral education for advanced nursing practice. https://www.aacnnursing.org/Portals/42/Publications/DNPEssentials.pdf

These represent a few community and organizational needs, challenges, and issues that may require and merit the advocacy, skill set, and knowledge of the DNP-prepared nurse. In your role as a DNP-prepared nurse, you may find yourself the champion and advocate for improved health outcomes both at a local and individual patient level to one of a national or global and population-based level. The DNP-prepared nurse is well poised to address and advocate changes not only in a healthcare setting but in a community context to promote positive social change and positive health-based outcomes.

Consider the needs, concerns, and topics that are most essential to your community or organization for this Discussion. Why should a DNP-prepared nurse be concerned about these needs, challenges, and issues?

To get ready:

Examine the Learning Resources for this week and think about which local issues/topics are most relevant to your community.

  • or an organization Find articles about your community or organization that illustrate the need for doctorally prepared nursing intervention.Consider why these local issues/topics are important to you as a DNP-prepared nurse.
    Consider your role as a DNP-prepared nurse in addressing these local issues/topics, as well as the kind of practice modifications or interventions you might offer to effect needed change in your community or organization.By the third day of Week 7,Post a comment on your blog describing at least two of the most pressing needs/challenges/issues in your community or organization. What is the significance of these needs/challenges/issues? Make your point. Then, identify at least two practices or interventions to address these needs/challenges/issues in your community or organization. Make certain that your job as a DNP-prepared nurse is aligned with the AACN Essentials.

NURS 8002 Blog The DNP-Prepared Nurse and Their Community

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Many health issues affect residents in Gwinnett County, Georgia. Many lives in Gwinnett County have been lost due to cancer, heart disease, tobacco use, and long-term health issues. Many local health departments are currently focused on covid-19, but overall health promotion to prevent many of those health issues is usually the priority. It is critical to implement measures to aid in health promotion. Wilkins (2021) makes an excellent point in stating that telling people how to stay healthy is not the only way to prevent these deaths; it is also critical to provide community features that allow residents to live a healthier lifestyle. In general, health promotion entails assisting in the prevention of obesity, encouraging healthy eating, receiving appropriate vaccinations, and, of course, encouraging the need for exercise and more healthy habits. These issues are significant in any community, but because Gwinnett County is growing, it is becoming more difficult to care for issues that have spread from those with unhealthy habits. Carden (2021) notes that Gwinnett County is Georgia’s second most populous county, which presents a challenge when addressing public health issues.

A DNP-prepared nurse is in high demand. On the ground, nurses in the health department are already seeing these health issues. The level of care would be higher as a DNP prepared nurse, because “practice includes not only direct care, but also a focus on the needs of a panel of patients, a target population, a set of populations, or a broad community” (American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 2006). The emphasis on a community or population of patients sets the stage for additional action to improve overall care for many patients.

As a suggestion, forming “improvement teams” (Kislov et al., 2012) could aid in the reduction of tobacco use among Gwinnett County residents. Kislov’s (2012) concept of collaborating members within improvement teams driving change in their settings is a key concept. These groups can be helpful in developing a plan for patients. These would be individual work-ups for patients receiving care from the health department. They would also rely on an intra-organizational effort to assess, plan, and implement individualized smoking cessation care for patients. Aside from those in need of assistance, it would entail disseminating appropriate knowledge about the effects of smoking throughout the community and ensuring that the community has the resources necessary to sustain the more healthy options.

NURS 8002 Blog The DNP-Prepared Nurse and Their Community

References

American Association of Colleges of Nursing (2006). The essentials of doctoral education for

Advanced nursing practice. https://www.aacnnursing.org/Portals/42/Publications/DNP

essentials.pdf

  Kislov, R., Walshe, K., & Harvey, G. (2012). Managing boundaries in primary care service

Improvement: A developmental approach to communities of practice. Implementation

Science, 7(97), 97-110. https://doi.org/10.1186/1748-5908-797

Wilkins, T. (2021). Gwinnett’s health department shares data on health and community

Disparities. Data dashboard: Gwinnett, Newton & Rockdale Counties, community

Health. Retrieved October 10, 2021 from https://www.ajc.com/neighborhoods/gwinnett/

gwinnetts-health-…h-and-community-disparities/K5GSI6IZFREONGQIXPNQTDEHWI/

By Day 5 of Week 7

Read a selection of your colleagues’ responses and respond to at least two of your colleagues on two different days by suggesting additional strategies your colleague could implement to bring about needed change in their community.

Submission and Grading Information

Grading Criteria

To access your rubric:

Week 7 Blog Rubric

Post by Day 3 of Week 7 and Respond by Day 5 of Week 7

To Participate in this Blog:

Week 7 Blog

NURS 8002 Blog The DNP-Prepared Nurse and Their Community

What’s Coming Up in Module 4?

Photo Credit: [BrianAJackson]/[iStock / Getty Images Plus]/Getty Images

In the next module, you will explore and analyze approaches for summarizing peer-reviewed research. You will also contrast which approaches are most helpful in summarizing peer-reviewed research.

Next Module

To go to the next module:

Module 4

Week 7: The Doctorally Prepared Nurse: Community of Practice

What is meant by a community of practice?

A community of practice represents a group of individuals who share a common purpose and desire to positively impact their practice and share ideas, perspectives, and lessons learned to enhance the proficiency with which to engage in practice.

Not surprisingly, as a profession, nursing already represents a critical community of practice. Moreover, DNP-prepared nurses are uniquely poised to lead and install changes of a transformative capacity within a community of practice due to their skill set of understanding and engaging in evidence-based practice. As a future DNP-prepared nurse, how do you see yourself engaging with or leading a community of practice?

This week, you will examine community and organizational needs, challenges, and issues. You will analyze the role of the DNP-prepared nurse in addressing these needs, challenges, and issues in your Blog Assignment. You will also consider and recommend practice changes that will meet community and organizational needs, challenges, and issues.

Learning Objectives

Students will:

  • Evaluate community and organization needs, challenges, and issues
  • Analyze the role of the DNP-prepared nurse in addressing community and organization needs, challenges, and issues
  • Recommend practice changes and interventions that address community and organization needs, challenges, and issues

Learning Resources

Required Readings (click to expand/reduce)

American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2006). The essentials of doctoral education for advanced nursing practice. https://www.aacnnursing.org/Portals/42/Publications/DNPEssentials.pdf

Andrew, N., Tolson, D., & Ferguson, D. (2008). Building on Wenger: Communities of practice in nursing. Nurse Education Today, 28(2), 246–252. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2007.05.002

Cook, D. A., Pencille, L. J., Dupras, D. M., Linderbaum, J. A., Pankratz, V. S., & Wilkinson, J. M. (2018). Practice variation and practice guidelines: Attitudes of generalist and specialist physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. PLOS ONE, 13(1), e0191943. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0191943

Fukuda, T., Sakurai, H., & Kashiwagi, M. (2020). Efforts to reduce the length of stay in a low-intensity ICU: Changes in the ICU brought about by collaboration between Certified Nurse Specialists as head nurses and intensivists. PLOS ONE, 15(6), e0234879. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0234879

Kislov, R., Walshe, K., & Harvey, G. (2012). Managing boundaries in primary care service improvement: A developmental approach to communities of practice. Implementation Science, 7(97), 97–110. https://doi.org/10.1186/1748-5908-7-97

Needs, Obstacles, and Problems within the Community

Throughout my employment in the Orlando, Florida area, I have observed numerous healthcare needs, challenges, and issues. I have regularly observed that patients do not stick to their dialysis schedules. We frequently see dialysis patients in the perioperative area who require surgery or other operations. During preoperative interviews with these patients, I have seen that a number of them do not stick to a dialysis regimen. They commonly miss dialysis for a variety of reasons. The consequences of missing a dialysis appointment might be extensive. Due to missing sessions, patients may endure dyspnea, pulmonary edema, and cardiovascular stress (Alikari et al., 2019). Additionally, skipping dialysis sessions can raise fatality rates (Alikari et al., 2019). Therefore, adherence to dialysis regimens is of the utmost importance. This worrying trend could benefit from a change in practice or intervention. The elopement of patients under involuntary psychiatric hold is a problem I’ve recently observed within my own organization. As charge nurse, I participate in a daily safety meeting that covers all hospital departments. There have been several cases in recent years of psychiatric patients whose sitters have eloped and not been returned. This is a major safety concern. The psychiatric patient who is subject to an involuntary hold has been deemed a danger to himself or others. A patient is constantly monitored by a patient sitter to prevent them from injuring themselves or others. Multiple instances of these patients escaping and not being returned is troubling. There is an elevated probability of an adverse safety event occurring if these patients flee.

Changes to Practice and Interventions

The DNP-prepared nurse could propose developing an educational program to assist dialysis patients in adhering to their dialysis schedules. This strategy was proposed by Alikari et al (2019). During their investigation, they discovered that patients benefited considerably from educational sessions (Alikari et al., 2019). These nurse-led educational initiatives were patient-centered.

as opposed to being told what to do, being a “partner” in their health care (Alikari et al., 2019). I believe that establishing such a program with my organization’s dialysis patients would be tremendously beneficial. Implementing a “behavioral reaction team” (BRT) may be effective in reducing the number of involuntary psychiatric hold patient elopements. The goal of the team, according to Bravo (2017), is “to respond, de-escalate disruptive behaviors, teach less experienced nursing units, and enhance safety.” These teams could potentially moderate an escalating patient behavior issue, hence preventing patient elopement.
In these scenarios, the use of these teams could boost the safety of both patients and personnel.

Conformity to AACN Essentials

In addition to adopting practice changes, addressing these issues within my company and community is a primary responsibility of the DNP-prepared nurse. The practice modifications described in this blog post agree with the DNP Essentials of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). The adoption of a nurse-led teaching program for dialysis patients is consistent with DNP Essential VII, Clinical Prevention and Population Health for Enhancing the Nation’s Health (AACN, 2006). This essential focuses on population “health promotion and risk reduction” (AACN, 2006). By assessing the needs of dialysis patients, the DNP-prepared nurse can take measures to reduce the likelihood of skipping dialysis sessions and the resulting negative consequences. The adoption of BRT in a hospital corresponds to the DNP Essential II, Organizational and Systems Leadership for Quality Improvement and Systems Thinking (AACN, 2006). This fundamental states DNP-educated nurses must be able to “concentrate on the needs of a panel of patients, a target group,” as well as “conceive of novel care delivery models” (AACN, 2006). By introducing a BRT as a standard of care for involuntary psychiatric detention, a new method of care delivery for this population is created.
In order to provide quality treatment, DNP-prepared nurses are expected to assess the needs of an organization or population and implement novel approaches.

NURS 8002 Blog The DNP-Prepared Nurse and Their Community

References

Alikari, V., Tsironi, M., Matziou, V., Tzavella, F., Stathoulis, J., Babatsikou, F., Fradelos, E., & Zyga, S. (2019). The effect of education on the knowledge, adherence, and quality of life of haemodialysis patients. 28(1), p. 73-83 in Quality of Life Research. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-018-1989-y

American Association of Nursing Colleges (2006).

The fundamentals of doctoral training for advanced nursing practice.

https://www.aacnnursing.org/Portals/42/Publications/DNPEssentials.pdf
Bravo, J. (2017). The behavioral response team: making hospitals safer. 33(1), 113-117, Journal of Healthcare Protection Management. Retrieved from the databases of the Walden University Library.

RESPOND

Healthcare organizations in different communities encounter a variety of challenges. These problems/challenges are always distinct based on the treatment approaches and sorts of complications under consideration (Alikari et al., 2019).
Compliance with dialysis schedules is typically a challenge for the majority of healthcare organizations. Due to the extensive distance patients must travel to receive dialysis, some individuals may miss the stipulated deadlines (Liu et al., 2021). The consequences of missing a dialysis appointment might be extensive. Due to missing sessions, patients may endure dyspnea, pulmonary edema, and cardiovascular stress (Tohme et al., 2017). Using contemporary technology that can be loaded on smartphones, patients can be reminded of their dialysis treatments, which is one of the most effective ways to combat the rising incidence of missed dialysis treatments.
According to research studies, missing dialysis treatments negatively impact the quality of treatment outcomes.
Most patients who miss dialysis sessions incur additional treatment-related problems.

NURS 8002 Blog The DNP-Prepared Nurse and Their Community

References

Alikari, V., Tsironi, M., Matziou, V., Tzavella, F., Stathoulis, J., Babatsikou, F., Fradelos, E., & Zyga, S. (2019). The effect of education on the knowledge, adherence, and quality of life of haemodialysis patients. 28(1), p. 73-83 in Quality of Life Research. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-018-1989-y
Liu, M. W. C., Syukri, M., Abdullah, A., & Chien, L. Y. (2021). Patients with End-Stage Renal Disease in Banda Aceh, Indonesia who miss in-center hemodialysis treatments. 18(17), 9215 International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/17/9215
F. Tohme, M. K. Mor, J. Pena-Polanco, J. A. Green, M. J. Fine, P. M. Palevsky, and S. D. Weisbord (2017). Predictors and outcomes of nonadherence in hemodialysis maintenance patients. Urology and Nephrology International, 49(8), 1471-1479.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11255-017-1600-4

Working in the transitional care unit hospital, I have witnessed numerous of re-admissions from outpatient procedures and inpatient. Re-admit issues are patients not adhering to discharge plans, medication adherence, and not showing up to follow-up appointments. Lack of not adhering to discharge plans patients sometimes develop an infection at the procedure sites, which causes longer recovery time for patients. Also, not adhering to medication regimens could lead to adverse drug events. Hospital re-admit is associated with adverse patient outcomes and results in high financial costs. Due to the increased cases of hospital re-admit for both inpatient and outpatient procedures, Medicare and Medicaid Services have penalties hospitals/providers for their 30-days re-admit rates based on reimbursement fees.

 Some intervention that could help reduce re-admit of patients and aligning the AACN Essentials of DNP are:

Essential II: Organizational and Systems Leadership for Quality Improvement and Systems Thinking – DNP-prepared nurses could help reduce re-admit of patients by employ principles of business, finance, economics, and health policy to develop and implement effective plans for practice-level and system-wide practice initiatives that will improve the quality-of-care delivery. Analyze the cost-effectiveness of practice initiatives accounting for risk and improvement of health care outcomes (AACN, 2006). An example of essential II, DNP-prepared nurses could implement a transitional care process adhering to Medicare and Medicaid concerns about re-admit and hospital/provider penalties cost. Transitional care processes are designed to prevent re-admit by conducting teach-back methods (checking comprehension of information learned). The patient or caregiver demonstrates what they have learned in their plan of care information to the nurse. Another intervention is the implementation of a discharge checklist- this is where nurses go over with patients before discharging a patient’s living situation, need for prosthetic items, need for home health, availability of a caregiver, transportation needs to go to follow-up appointments. Also, medication reconciliation before discharge- this is where medications are reviewed before discharge to ensure that all medication changes (new medication, dose change on previously prescribed medication, and elimination of medication) are accurate in patient’s medical records (Pugh et al., 2021). These interventions could help reduce the cost of re-admit issues in outpatient procedures and inpatient.

Essential VI: Interprofessional Collaboration for Improving Patient and Population Health Outcomes Employ effective communication and collaborative skills to develop and implement practice models, peer review, practice guidelines, health policy, and standards of care (AACN, 2006). An example of essential VI is where DNP- prepared nurses collaborate with other team members to help prevent patients re-admit. Some interventions include communicating medical plans in front of patients during physician team rounds. Discussions are held in the patient rooms and engaging patients regarding discharge treatment plans involving physician teams, nurses, and other team members. Another intervention is collaborating with staff routinely to assess patients for rehabilitation services during discharge planning to PT/OT at home, PT/OT outpatient, inpatient rehabilitation, or SNF (Pugh et al., 2021).

Reducing the number of patient falls on a medical/surgical hospital floor.

Other issues that I have witnessed in the hospital are high fall incidence in the med surg floors. Patient falls and re-admit are two of the biggest Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services list of non-reimbursable events in the hospital. Patient falls on the hospital floors are problematic safety concerns that can be prevented with the correct intervention protocol. Falling can range from minor bruises and abrasions to more severe results such as fractures, lacerations, head injuries, and even death. Some patients are not even aware of being identified as fall risk patients while in the hospital (Cuttler et al., 2017). Fall risk identification should be placed on patients’ communication board in the room, place a yellow wristband on patients, and place a fall risk sign on the outside door of patients to help prevent falls on the hospital floor. Also, making sure on staff shift, patients bed exit alarm are turned on.

 Some intervention that could help reduce patient falls in hospital floor and aligning the AACN Essentials of DNP are:

Essential IV: Information Systems/Technology and Patient Care Technology for the Improvement and Transformation of Health Care. Design, select, use, and evaluate programs that evaluate and monitor outcomes of care, care systems, and quality improvement, including consumer use of health care information systems (AACN, 2006). Using essential IV to prevent patient falls in the hospital setting is critical. DNP-prepared nurses could implement fall risk interventions such as using the bed exit alarm alerting nurses when a patient attempts to get out of bed. While the bed exit alarm is integrated into the patient’s bed, staff can ensure the patients belonging are at arm’s reach. Also, using the patient’s electronic health records (EHR) to document fall risk intervention conducted on staff shift. Implementing bed alarms on, offering toileting, and remaining with the patient when they are out of bed can help reduce falls in the hospital setting

Essential VI: Interprofessional Collaboration for Improving Patient and Population Health Outcomes. DNP-prepared nurses could collaborate with staff and patients on the importance of adhering to fall intervention in the hospital. Some interventions to help prevent falls in the hospital are having in place a fall safety agreement. This agreement included the patient being educated on fall risk prevention strategies and acknowledging that falling can cause serious injuries. Also, conducting an in-service staff safety huddle during shift change. In safety huddles, the staff are instructed to ensure all patients receive the fall prevention education, fall risk health assessment, and documented and a signed patient fall safety agreement upon admission or transfer to the unit. Also, collaborating with staff to ensure high-risk fall patients are provided with nonskid socks, gait belts, and yellow wrist bands are all safety interventions to reduce patient fall risk on the hospital floor (Bargmann & Brundrett, 2020).

Kind Regards,

 Reference

American Association of College of Nursing. (2006). The esstenial of doctoral education for advanced nursing practice. https://www.aacnnursing.org/Portals/42/Publications/DNPEssentials.pdf

Bargmann, A. L., & Brundrett, S. M. (2020).  Implementation of a Multicomponent Fall Prevention Program: Contracting With Patients for Fall Safety. Oxford University Press, 185(2), 28-34. https://doi.org/10.1093/milmed/usz411

Cuttler, S. J., Barr-Walker, J., & Cuttler, L. (2017). Reducing medical-surgical inpatient falls and injuries with videos, icons and alarms. BMJ open quality6(2), e000119. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjoq-2017-000119

Pugh, J., Penney, L., Noel, P., Neller, S., Mader, M., Finley, E. P., Lanham, H. J., & Leykum, L. (2021). Evidence based processes to prevent readmissions: more is better, a ten-site observational study. BMC Health Serv Res, 29(89). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-021-06193-x

Rubric Detail

Select Grid View or List View to change the rubric’s layout.

Name: NURS_8002_Week7_Blog_Rubric

  Excellent

90%–100%

Good

80%–89%

Fair

70%–79%

Poor

0%–69%

Main Posting:

Response to the Blog prompt is reflective with critical analysis and synthesis representative of knowledge gained from the course readings for the module and current credible sources.

18 (30%) – 20 (33.33%)

Thoroughly responds to the Blog prompt(s).

Is reflective with critical analysis and synthesis representative of knowledge gained from the course readings for the module and/or current practice experiences.

No less than 75% of post has exceptional depth and breadth.

16 (26.67%) – 17 (28.33%)

Responds to most of the Blog prompt(s).

Is somewhat reflective with critical analysis and synthesis representative of knowledge gained from the course readings for the module and/or current practice experiences.

50% of the post has exceptional depth and breadth.

14 (23.33%) – 15 (25%)

Responds to some of the Blog prompt(s).

One to two criteria are not addressed or are superficially addressed.

Is somewhat lacking reflection and critical analysis and synthesis.

Somewhat represents knowledge gained from the course readings for the module.

0 (0%) – 13 (21.67%)

Does not respond to the Blog prompt(s).

Lacks depth or superficially addresses criteria.

Lacks reflection and critical analysis and synthesis.

Does not represent knowledge gained from the course readings for the module.

Main Posting:

Writing

5 (8.33%) – 5 (8.33%)

Written clearly and concisely.

Contains no grammatical or spelling errors.

Adheres to current APA manual writing rules and style.

4 (6.67%) – 4 (6.67%)

Written concisely.

May contain one to two grammatical or spelling errors.

Adheres to current APA manual writing rules and style.

3 (5%) – 3 (5%)

Written somewhat concisely.

May contain more than two spelling or grammatical errors.

Contains some APA formatting errors.

0 (0%) – 2 (3.33%)

Not written clearly or concisely.

Contains more than two spelling or grammatical errors.

Does not adhere to current APA manual writing rules and style.

Main Posting:

Timely and full participation

5 (8.33%) – 5 (8.33%)

Meets requirements for timely, full, and active participation.

Posts main Blog post by due date.

4 (6.67%) – 4 (6.67%)

Posts main Discussion by due date.

Meets requirements for full participation.

3 (5%) – 3 (5%)

Posts main Blog post by due date.

0 (0%) – 2 (3.33%)

Does not meet requirements for full participation.

Does not post main Blog post by due date.

First Response:

Post to colleague’s main post that is reflective.

5 (8.33%) – 5 (8.33%)

Response exhibits critical thinking and application to practice settings.

Responds to questions posed by faculty.

4 (6.67%) – 4 (6.67%)

Response has some depth and may exhibit critical thinking or application to practice setting.

3 (5%) – 3 (5%)

Response is on topic and may have some depth.

0 (0%) – 2 (3.33%)

Response may not be on topic and lacks depth.

First Response:
Writing
5 (8.33%) – 5 (8.33%)

Communication is professional and respectful to colleagues.

Response fully answers faculty questions, if posed.

Provides clear, concise opinions and ideas.

Response is effectively written in standard, edited English.

4 (6.67%) – 4 (6.67%)

Communication is mostly professional and respectful to colleagues.

Response mostly answers faculty questions, if posed.

Provides opinions and ideas.

Response is written in standard, edited English.

3 (5%) – 3 (5%)

Response posed in the Blog may lack effective professional communication.

Response somewhat answers faculty questions, if posed.

0 (0%) – 2 (3.33%)

Responses posted in the Blog lack effective communication.

Response to faculty questions is missing.

First Response:
Timely and full participation
5 (8.33%) – 5 (8.33%)

Meets requirements for timely, full, and active participation.

Posts by due date.

4 (6.67%) – 4 (6.67%)

Meets requirements for full participation.

Posts by due date.

3 (5%) – 3 (5%)

Posts by due date.

0 (0%) – 2 (3.33%)

Does not meet requirements for full participation.

Does not post by due date.

Second Response:
Post to colleague’s main post that is reflective.
5 (8.33%) – 5 (8.33%)

Response exhibits critical thinking and application to practice settings.

Responds to questions posed by faculty.

4 (6.67%) – 4 (6.67%)

Response has some depth and may exhibit critical thinking or application to practice setting.

3 (5%) – 3 (5%)

Response is on topic and may have some depth.

0 (0%) – 2 (3.33%)

Response may not be on topic and lacks depth.

Second Response:
Writing
5 (8.33%) – 5 (8.33%)

Communication is professional and respectful to colleagues.

Response fully answers faculty questions, if posed.

Provides clear, concise opinions and ideas.

Response is effectively written in standard, edited English.

4 (6.67%) – 4 (6.67%)

Communication is mostly professional and respectful to colleagues.

Response mostly answers faculty questions, if posed.

Provides opinions and ideas.

Response is written in standard, edited English.

3 (5%) – 3 (5%)

Response posed in the Blog may lack effective professional communication.

Response somewhat answers faculty questions, if posed.

0 (0%) – 2 (3.33%)

Responses posted in the Blog lack effective communication.

Response to faculty questions is missing.

Second Response:
Timely and full participation
5 (8.33%) – 5 (8.33%)

Meets requirements for timely, full, and active participation.

Posts by due date.

4 (6.67%) – 4 (6.67%)

Meets requirements for full participation.

Posts by due date.

3 (5%) – 3 (5%)

Posts by due date.

0 (0%) – 2 (3.33%)

Does not meet requirements for full participation.

Does not post by due date.

Total Points: 60

I work in South Los Angeles, a low-income, health professional shortage, and medically-undeserved area with some of the worst health indicators in the state of California. This community has many needs and challenges that need to be addressed in order to improve health outcomes for the residents. Disparities in the physical surroundings and healthcare system disproportionately affect this community, having a long-lasting effect on their health and quality of life. The needs in this community include;

Access to behavioral health: Numerous mental health issues in South Los Angeles remain unaddressed. In this community, there is a severe lack of mental health specialists and insufficient availability of acute psychiatric beds (Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI), 2023). In addition, treatment for substance use disorders is not as equitable as it is in other wealthy communities. Although the region’s rates of smoking, alcohol dependency, and illicit drug use are comparable to those of neighboring areas, the locals lack access to hospital-based programs for substance abuse recovery and rehabilitation. Access to behavioral health readily available to this community is important because it will reduce unemployment rates, increase productivity, improve quality of life, and overall well being of the residents.

To achieve this, there should be an increase in the  the number of trained mental health professionals that are available to this population. As a DNP prepared nurse, I will advocate for and actively promote this by serving on organizational, local, state, and national committees to influence policy makers to allocate more funding needed to acquire more mental health providers. Another intervention will be to increase referrals to substance use  and mental health services for residents.

Access to preventive, primary, and specialty care: There is a lack of physicians across all specialties in this community, which makes it difficult to get primary, specialist, and preventative care. There’s also a deficiency in comprehensive, high-quality, multidisciplinary healthcare and coordination, and health insurance coverage (MLK Community Healthcare, 2023). Addressing this need is important because a shortage of providers causes lengthier wait times and care delays, which raises the total cost of treatment and results in inadequate management of chronic illnesses including heart disease and diabetes, which are common in this community. For example, a shortage of health clinics and providers leads to delays in care and an increased use of hospital resulting in higher treatment costs.

To address this need, more community health centers need to be established to give residents more access to preventive and primary services. Telehealth services can also be broadened to help increase access to care. Providers in the community can also collaborate with specialty doctors from other communities to offer telehealth specialty consults. In order to bring about this transformation and meet the needs in this community as a DNP-prepared nurse, I will collaborate with intra- and interprofessional teams in the healthcare organizations in the community.