Introduction
In the position of a registered nurse with a baccalaureate degree, knowledge and use of health care technology and effective communication techniques are crucial for improving patient outcomes and the organisation’s performance. The emphasis of the assessment is on this part of the process that the healthcare stakeholders can use to solve an actual patient, family, or community problem.
Part 1: Consideration of using Health Service Technology, Coordinating between Care Providers, and Communicating Community Resources
COPD is a progressive lung disease that causes the development of irreversible impairment in lung function. Hence, patients require regular follow-up and management procedures for a good life with minimal COPD symptoms. I chose a case of a COPD patient who is having difficulties in grappling with their symptoms at Home with this assessment. In a two-hour practicum, I examined diverse sides, such as healthcare technology, care organization, and community resources, which could contribute to improving the patient’s life condition.
Health Care Technology
The patient uses a pulse oximeter at Home to control oxygen saturation levels. It faces obstacles because it cannot detect the early signals of an exacerbation stage. Moreover, the self-management data it provides is significant. Indeed, this emphasizes the necessity of additional monitoring mechanisms and consultations with healthcare professionals.
Upon the analysis of telehealth conducted by Soriano et al. (2018), different instances were observed. Some studies proved that telemedicine could serve as an effective strategy for improving patient outcomes, allowing virtual meetings and remote data services. On the other hand, other research showed doubts about the efficacy of the telehealth delicacy in traditional medical care done in a face-to-face physical setting, especially if physical examinations were required.
According to Jiang et al. (2022), costs can be a limitation for some patients regardless of healthcare technology. For instance, the price of buying a pulse oximeter may or may not be covered by the insurance for all patients. Deciding on access to telehealth services may be difficult regarding comprehensive insurance programs (Barbosa et al., 2020). A considerable portion of the financial burden takes its toll on patients, making it more challenging to attend treatment regimens and stay connected with healthcare providers.
Care Coordination
The patient has previously enjoyed service from home care, which was helpful in the management of the condition and avoided hospital readmissions. HomeHomeed care supports patients with personalized care in the comfort of their homes, which enhances the quality of life and increases the number of caregivers (Brewer et al., 2020). Travel to doctors and specialist visits can sometimes be hard for the patient because of poor mobility among the elderly (Solomon et al., 2020). It may hinder them from having contact with entities that link them to such services as follow-up appointments with medical doctors and participation in pulmonary rehabilitation programs. Speaking about transportation barriers is extremely important to create continuity of care and improve patient outcomes feasibly. Support groups proved to be an excellent option for the patients by letting them express their feelings and offering valuable advice for handling the disease (Barbosa et al., 2020). The involvement of peers as a support element in the control of COPD can be significant, providing the patients with the support necessary for dealing with the difficulties of living with a chronic condition and improving the quality of their lives.
Community Resources
The community centres nearby offer pulmonary rehabilitation sessions, and studies have proven that these can attain positive outcomes regarding exercise capacity and quality of life for patients with COPD. Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) benefit from pulmonary rehabilitation programs that involve exercise sessions with proper instructions on COPD management and provide psychosocial support, which is crucial in optimizing the patient outcome in most cases. The faith-based institutions in the community have put forward health education programs on OSCE management whereby patients and their families have benefited from the information they have learned. These programs are how patients are educated on COPD, available treatments, and healthcare resources. This enables patients to control their health and seek necessary care accordingly (Barbosa et al., 2020). The implementation of health care technology, the coordination of care, and the community’s resources significantly affect the management of COPD and the positive results of the patient. By employing these resources wisely, healthcare providers provide comprehensive care to COPD patients, covering their physical, emotional, and social areas of need.
Part 2: Reflection on Practicum Experience
In the second 2-hour session of my practicum, I had a chance to meet an advanced-level respiratory therapist specializing in COPD management. Through this experience, I have understood the recent findings in COPD therapy that now cover new meds and pulmonary rehab techniques (Brewer et al., 2020). Another facet of my learning was reviewing evidence-based practice papers and websites to comprehend the correct COPD management plans.
In a respiratory therapist’s office that I went to, we discussed the health issue of COPD and conveyed the importance of interdisciplinary cooperation in treating complex health problems. The significant points raised by the rheumatologist in terms of the need for a holistic management approach to COPD, including medications and psychological and lifestyle considerations, became more and more evident. The primary lesson I take from this investigation is that the most generative factor of education is to help patients live well with this condition (Brewer et al., 2020). The therapist highlighted the principle of patient education, enabling patients to discuss each factor regarding their health condition, medications, and personal management approaches. This coincides with holistic care as it significantly improves patients’ health status and maximizes their overall well-being.
Enhancing awareness of coping with COPD through using available resources in management is also an important aspect that emerged from this experience. Nurses can improve their competencies and understanding of COPD patients’ treatment by liaising with respiratory therapists and other health care professionals. Furthermore, through continuous updates regarding the recent progress in COPD treatment, nurses can give patients more qualified advice and service.
Effects on Nursing Practice
COPD being a real scenario, this practicum showed the need for a multi-disciplinary team in patient care, especially in cardiopulmonary issues. A healthcare team working in harmony plays a unique and vital role in the fight against this disease. New COPD treatments and the therapist’s knowledge about these breakthroughs highlighted the integration aspect of every team member whose priority is to provide the best possible systematic care approach (Brewer et al., 2020). This interaction (intermarriage) contributes to the growth of quality care and guarantees that the patients get the most modern and effective treatments (Barbosa et al., 2020). As a nurse, this episode has so clearly shown me the role it plays of exactly myself to actively interact with other healthcare professional teammates to improve patients’ health outcomes and provide holistic care ultimately.
Considering the internship, nurses need to be experts at using their resources properly when hit by patient problems. The respiratory therapist made a point of the various information and support available through the evidence-based practice documents and the websites. This realization taught me the need to be aware of cutting-edge methods and the use of the available resources to deliver quality patient care (Brewer et al., 2020). Within their bag of tools, nurses can extend their knowledge, keep up-to-date with the latest trends in the industry, and improve their skills to provide better patient care (Barbosa et al., 2020). This experience has promoted the futuristic aspect of evolving education and continuous training in the context of nursing practice to ensure that nurses possess the knowledge and skills required for delivering top-flight nursing service.
This experience has entrenched me in the interplay of biological, psychological, and sociological factors in nursing, especially in the case of a patient with a chronic condition of COPD. Due to the attention to the residents’ education and self-management strategies, the therapist has approved the idea that it is necessary to stop not only the physical condition of the disease but also the emotional and psychological aspects of it. Hence, this holistic approach is crucial for their health outcomes and quality of life. As a nurse, the realization of this exposure has reaffirmed the role of respecting patients as unique human beings with different needs and circumstances (Barbosa et al., 2020). It has become an opportune time for care to be individualized to be able to serve these patients best. Nurses can take a comprehensive view of caring when they address the wide range of patient’s needs, leading to positive outcomes and enhanced patient well-being.
Conclusion
Applying health care technology, coordinating the care provided, and utilising community resources is essential for achieving efficient nursing practice. The functions of these three aspects together allow nurses to impact patient wellbeing positively, facilitate healthcare system efficiency, and thus provide student-centred care that caters to the variety of needs of patients and communities. This holistic strategy does not just ensure quality aid and support but also encompasses the fact that patients do not exclusively receive medical treatment but relatively complete support. While nursing professionals perform this task, they have to rise to the challenge, adapt and recognize the crucial role of these components for actualising care delivery to patients and maintaining high wellness levels.
References
Soriano, J. B., García-Río, F., Vázquez-Espinosa, E., Conforto, J. I., Hernando-Sanz, A., López-Yepes, L., … & Ancochea, J. (2018). A multicenter, randomized controlled trial of telehealth for the management of COPD. Respiratory medicine, 144, 74-81.
Jiang, Y., Sun, P., Chen, Z., Guo, J., Wang, S., Liu, F., & Li, J. (2022). Patients’ and healthcare providers’ perceptions and experiences of telehealth use and online health information use in chronic disease management for older patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a qualitative study. BMC geriatrics, 22, 1-16.
Barbosa, M. T., Sousa, C. S., Morais-Almeida, M., Simões, M. J., & Mendes, P. (2020). Telemedicine in COPD: An overview by topics. COPD: Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, 17(5), 601-617.
Solomon, E. M., Wing, H., Steiner, J. F., & Gottlieb, L. M. (2020). Impact of transportation interventions on health care outcomes: a systematic review. Medical care, 58(4), 384-391.
Brewer, L. C., Fortuna, K. L., Jones, C., Walker, R., Hayes, S. N., Patten, C. A., & Cooper, L. A. (2020). Back to the future: Achieving health equity through health informatics and digital health. JMIR mHealth and uHealth, 8(1), e14512.
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