NURS FPX 4900 Assessment 3 Assessing the Problem Technology, Care Coordination, and Community

State Board Nursing Policies of Technology Use for Hypertension Management

There are several policies and standards in the US that guide nursing practices regarding the use of technology in interventions, particularly for hypertension management.

  • Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA): The law administered by federal authorities establishes standards to keep the personal health information (PHI) of patients protected and secure. This law requires nurses to protect the privacy and security of patients’ medical information, including EHRs and other digital health technologies (Moore & Frye, 2019).
  • Nursing Practice Scope and Standards by American Nurses Association (ANA) Nursing Informatics : This document outlines the value and requirements of nursing informatics, which refers to integrating computer science, nursing science, and information science to manage the data and communicate the knowledge in nursing practice. This policy guides nurses in using technology and information management in their practice (Kreitzer et al., 2022).
  • Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) – The IHI is a non-profit organization focusing on improving healthcare quality and patient safety. It has developed evidence-based guidelines and tools for hypertension management and other health conditions that nurses can use to improve their practice and patient outcomes (Bolen et al., 2023).
  • Medicare & Medicaid Services Centers (CMS) Quality Payment Program (QPP): This program provides financial incentives for nurses who use technology efficiently to improve patient outcomes. This includes the management of severe conditions such as hypertension (Mendel et al., 2020).
  • The Joint Commission Nursing Standards: These standards guide healthcare organizations regarding the use of technology in patient care. It requires healthcare organizations to implement and maintain systems for monitoring and improving patient outcomes, including the management of hypertension (The Joint Commission, 2023).

Ethical Considerations in Nursing Practices

Monroe (2019) explained that the American Nurses Association (ANA) had set an ethical code demonstrating ethical considerations for nursing practice. These ethical considerations are based on the core values of integrity, trust, respect, and compassion. Concerning hypertension management, the ANA guidelines highlight the importance of promoting the well-being of patients and providing care that is free from harm. Nurses are ethically obliged to advocate for their patients and ensure appropriate care (Monroe, 2019).

Through the practicum session with David, I found that the nurse needed to adequately educate him on the importance of proper medication adherence and regularly monitoring his blood pressure levels. This represents a breach of ethical obligations, as the nurse did not provide appropriate care or advocate for the patient’s well-being (Monroe, 2019). The ANA guidelines suggest that the nurse should have taken a more active role in managing David’s hypertension and ensuring he received the needed care.

Conclusion 

Technology has brought about significant changes in nursing practice, particularly in hypertension management. The use of telehealth and care coordination guided by appropriate community resources is effective in improving patient outcomes. However, barriers to care coordination, such as lack of access to resources and financial constraints, must be addressed to ensure optimal care for patients with hypertension. In addition, ethical considerations and administrative standards should guide nurses in their practice to ensure patient safety and promote ethical conduct.

References

Alharbi, N. A., & Alkhawaji, Y. (2023). Use and effectiveness of digital adherence tools. Saudi Journal of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences (SJMPS) , 9(3), 155–162. https://doi.org/10.36348/sjmps.2023.v09i03.003

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