State and federal policies shape registered nurses’ scope of practice related to Alzheimer’s care delivery. Some state policies limit nurses from diagnosing dementia independently or prescribing medications, requiring physician oversight. However, certain states permit advanced practice nurses with proper training to clinically diagnose Alzheimer’s and prescribe acetylcholinesterase inhibitors. The policy also enables nurses to lead dementia care coordination, provide case management, conduct cognitive assessments, deliver psychotherapy under supervision, and manage patients holistically in collaboration with the interdisciplinary team. Navigating evolving policy frameworks allows nurses to optimize their scope and level of dementia care responsibility (Bae-Shaaw et al., 2021).
Implementing transformational leadership represents a promising strategy to improve Alzheimer’s disease care quality, outcomes, and patient experience. Transformational leaders exhibit strong values, establish a unified vision, empower team members, and help staff overcome barriers to providing evidence-based, patient-centered dementia care. For example, I could spearhead weekly interdisciplinary huddles focused on discussing complex Alzheimer’s cases, coordinating care delivery, and creating joint solutions. Recognizing and celebrating staff accomplishments related to dementia care is another transformational approach to motivating and inspiring frontline nurses and clinicians (Nieuwboer et al., 2022).
Adopting relationship-based care models also fosters leadership approaches centered on human connections, empowerment, and reducing patient and caregiver burdens. For example, care teams make weekly phone calls to check on patients like Clay and identify emerging needs or concerns. Leadership training on communication techniques and person-centered care cultivates compassionate mindsets and reduces burnout risk among dementia care providers. Through these relational leadership strategies, nurses enhance experiences for Alzheimer’s patients, provide support for overwhelmed caregivers, and improve access to services that allow more individuals to age with dignity (Ferreira et al., 2020).
Leading change and fostering collaboration through clear communication represent a pivotal nursing role in transforming Alzheimer’s care. Nurses must collaborate with patients, families, administrators, providers, researchers, and community organizations to develop integrated, evidence-based dementia services. Change management requires educating stakeholders on the benefits of person-centered, team-based care models that improve outcomes. Ongoing communication through meetings, in-services, community engagement, and policy channels also helps catalyze systems-level improvements that better serve patients like Clay across settings (Hoek et al., 2020).
In conclusion, Alzheimer’s disease represents a critical public health issue that requires a multifaceted approach to leadership, collaboration, communication, change management, and policy advocacy. Assessing this problem through these critical lenses provides insight into evidence-based solutions nurses can implement across individual, organizational, community, and political levels. Caring for patients like Clay and families impacted by Alzheimer’s and dementia necessitates applying current standards of practice, synthesizing literature, overcoming barriers, improving access to services, supporting caregivers, reducing stigma, and redesigning systems that foster safe, compassionate, and person-centered care. Through skilled nursing leadership, collaboration, communication, and policy engagement, we can make meaningful progress in confronting the growing epidemic of Alzheimer’s disease.
Alzheimer’s Association. (2023). Facts and figures . Alzheimer’s disease and dementia; Alzheimer’s Association. https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/facts-figures
American Nurses Association. (2023). American Nurses Association . ANA Enterprise. https://www.nursingworld.org/
Bae-Shaaw, Y., Lekovitch, C., Chew, F., Leland, N., Sood, N., & Shier, V. (2021). The Impact of state dementia training requirements for nursing homes on resident outcomes. Innovation in Aging , 5(1), 550–550. https://doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igab046.2098
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