High Blood Pressure in African American
Project title: High Blood Pressure in African American
Problem Statement: About 1 of 3 U.S. adults—or about 75 million people—have high blood pressure.1 Only about half (54%) of these people have their high blood pressure under control. This common condition increases the risk for heart disease (https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/index.htm) and stroke, of the leading causes of death for Americans. Blacks develop high blood pressure more often, and at an earlier age, than whites and Hispanics do. More black women than men have high blood pressure. In 2009, Americans visited their health care providers more than 55 million times to treat high blood pressure. Using team-based care that includes the patient, primary care provider, and other health care providers is a recommended strategy to reduce and control (https://www.cdc.gov/bloodpressure/control.htm) blood pressure.
Plan: prevent high blood pressure by making healthy choices and managing any health conditions you may have. Practice healthy living habits, educate, prevent or treat medical conditions.
Goal: The ultimate public health goal of antihypertensive therapy is to reduce cardiovascular and renal morbidity and mortality. Since most persons with hypertension, especially those >50 years of age, will reach the DBP goal once the SBP goal is achieved, the primary focus should be on attaining the SBP goal.
Project Objectives
Upon completion of NUR456 Professional Practice Project, the student will be able to complete the following objectives as evidenced by documentation in discussion boards, clinical evaluations, feedback from preceptor, fellow students, and faculty:
- Synthesize knowledge from the liberal arts and sciences and nursing science to understand global perspectives, stimulate critical thinking, and use current technologies.
1a) Provide research and definition about high blood pressure by week 1
High blood pressure is a medical condition, which is long term in nature. It is characterized by an increase exertion of pressure to the walls of the arteries by blood as it circulates in the body. High blood pressure eventually may lead to onset of other health complications like cardiovascular diseases and renal failure (Ward & Langton, 2007). It’s calculated by making a comparison of the amount of blood pumped by the heart with the resistance in the arteries.
1b) Determine how race, ethnicity, race and gender affect patients with high blood pressure by week 2
The racial and ethnic differences in high blood pressure are due to genetic differences say between the African Americans and the Hispanic Americans. Moreover culture which is embedded in race makes some races to practice unhealthy lifestyles like lack of exercise or poor diet composition which increases their risk for developing high blood pressure. For African Americans, the high blood pressure is due to association with obesity and type 2 diabetes. Gender also determines the risks of getting high blood pressure. For instance, men are said to be the largest gender which is affected by high blood pressure. However, there are some factors in women which make them prone to high blood pressure such as pregnancy, menopause and use of contraceptive pills.
- Make sound decisions in the use of patient information and healthcare technology to design, coordinate, manage, and evaluate nursing care for individuals, families, and populations
2a) Determine patient’s knowledge about high blood pressure by week 2
In most cases, the patients are not aware that they are at risk of developing high blood pressure until they begin facing symptoms. It is important for the patients to seek screening from time to time and observe a balanced diet at all times (Douglas et al., 2003). Other solutions that are offered in nursing to prevent high blood pressure include avoiding fatty foods and participating in physical activities. For those who already have high blood pressure, the need to be seeking health services so as to ensure that the blood pressure is under control.
2b) Identify signs and symptoms of high blood pressure in African American by week 2
Some signs and symptoms of high blood pressure in African Americans include: nausea and vomiting, dizziness, head ache episodes, blurred vision and shortness of breath. Other signs associated with high blood pressure include onset of diabetes, renal failure and cardiac problems.
- Demonstrate clinical excellence to provide caring, compassionate, and culturally appropriate patient-centered care to people in a variety of settings.
3a) Provide education to nurses in different department by week 4
3b) Encourage nurses to be patient and take their time when educating their patients about high blood pressure by week 4
- Communicate, collaborate, and negotiate effectively to improve patient healthcare outcomes
4a) Answer patients’ questions and concerns about high blood pressure by week 5
4b) Provide pamphlets, brochure, handouts about high blood pressure by week 6
4c) Review lifestyle choices that reduce blood pressure in African American
- Exhibit professional values and behaviors as outlined by a professional code of ethics, professional standards, and legal statutes
5a) Maintain patient confidentiality, using HIPAA as reference by week 1 through 7
5b) Show professional behavior by maintaining privacy and frequent hand hygiene by week 1 through 7
- Promote healthy lifestyles through health promotion, risk reduction, and disease prevention education for individuals and populations
6a) Encourage nurses to teach how lifestyle changes improves blood pressure in patients already on medication by week 5
6b) Teach patients about exercise by week 3
6c) Address plans to patient on how to exercise daily and maintain good BMI according to age appropriate by week 4.
6d) explain the patients how undetected or uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to heart attack, stroke, heart failure and other serious health threats.
- Incorporate evidence-based knowledge and theory into nursing practice
7a) Review information on CDC website to keep staff and patients updated by week4
7b) Provide education session once a month every third Wednesday of each month to motivate patients to maintain their blood pressure by week 8
- Demonstrate leadership and collaboration within interdisciplinary healthcare partners and professional, political, and/or regulatory organizations to support change in healthcare
8a) Collaborate with the agency nurses, charge nurses, paramedics and attending physicians to initiate prioritizations to avoid consequences by week 6
8b) Provide education about evidence based practice to staff by week 4
- Allocate and manage resources to ensure patient safety and high quality healthcare
9a) Encourage staff to maintain safety by week 3
9b) Educate ER staff to call other department if patients with high blood pressure are unstable by week 6
- Engage in lifelong learning and scholarly inquiry to continue professional career development
10a) Promote continuing teaching African American patients with high blood pressure by week 8
10b) Continue with the renewal of the CPR card via American Heart Association website
10c) Complete the MSN in the next 2 to 3 years
References
Douglas, J. G., Bakris, G. L., Epstein, M., Ferdinand, K. C., Ferrario, C., Flack, J. M., & Ofili, E. O. (2003). Management of high blood pressure in African Americans: consensus statement of the Hypertension in African Americans Working Group of the International Society on Hypertension in Blacks. Archives of internal medicine, 163(5), 525-541.
Ward, M., & Langton, J. A. (2007). Blood pressure measurement. Continuing Education in Anaesthesia, Critical Care & Pain, 7(4), 122-126.
