Impact of Cardiovascular Diseases on Nursing Practice

Running Head: CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES 1
Cardiovascular Diseases
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation

CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES 2
IMPACT OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES ON NURSING PRACTICE
Introduction
Cardiovascular diseases are identified as classes of conditions that involve the heart and
blood vessels. Cardiovascular diseases are known as the number one cause of death globally.
More individuals die because yearly from cardiovascular conditions than any other state. There
are strategies that can be used to prevent most of the cardiovascular diseases like obesity, use of
tobacco, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, and harmful use of alcohol by addressing the
behavioral risk factors (6 Cardiovascular Diseases, 2017). Cardiovascular conditions include
heart attacks, hypertension, cerebrovascular disease, rheumatic heart condition, peripheral artery
disease, congenital heart disease, and heart failure. The leading causes of cardiovascular diseases
are an unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, and tobacco use. Over 75% of cardiovascular
conditions deaths take place in low and middle-income nations and happens equally in males and
females.
The risk of heart attacks and strokes is increased by tobacco use, physical inactivity, and
an unhealthy diet. High blood pressure does not have symptoms, but also it can cause a sudden
stroke or heart attack. Diabetes also increases the risk of heart attacks and stroke. Overweight
and obesity also increase the risk of heart and strokes. Low socioeconomic status also increases
the chances of exposure to risk factors and increases the vulnerability to develop cardiovascular
diseases (Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), 2018). Cardiovascular diseases affect many people
globally in middle age and severely limiting income and savings which in turn affects people and
their families. Low earnings and out of pocket health care payments undermine the
socioeconomic development of countries. Cardiovascular diseases place a heavy burden on

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economies of enemies. Many families particularly those who have a low income are significantly
affected.
Effects on nursing practice
Nurses with regards to their working conditions, they can be vulnerable to suffering from
cardiovascular diseases. Nurses play a significant role in managing and preventing
cardiovascular diseases. They are always the first and more consistent point of contacts for the
sufferers. They are often in the best position to collect information about a sufferer’s family like
social, economic and cultural factors which might be vital in developing an intervention (Byrne
et al., 2015). The increasing prevalence of cardiovascular diseases will affect the work of the
nurses whether they work in the community or work in institutions.
Various health issues like neurological disorders and cardiovascular conditions will arise
due to their involvement with the cardiovascular patients. Also, cardiovascular conditions lead to
problems like burnout, absenteeism or changing jobs. If nurses are short staffed, it can bring
about professional issues or even personal issues. Patients suffering from cardiovascular diseases
require critical attention. Due to short staffing in many hospitals, the present nurses are
overworked hence experiencing burn out. It will make them more frustrated and be unsatisfied
with their work due to a lot of work.
Working in the hospital places nurses in various hazards. For example, they are exposed
to the patients suffering from cardiovascular diseases. Apart from that, it also puts their safety at
risk since they are prone to infections (Home, n.d). Many nurses are at risk of suffering from
heart diseases and diabetes without their knowledge. Furthermore, nurses play an essential role

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in advancing public health; their real predicament causes a reduction in their beneficial service
period and suffering.
Lack of appropriate technological equipment in treating cardiovascular conditions makes
it hard for the nurses to attend to the patents quickly. Also, many people are suffering from
cardiovascular diseases particularly the old hence lack of enough resources may lead to more
deaths or create a long-term impact on the patient and can cause a reduction in the lifespan of the
patient (Maulik, 2013). The number of sufferers is increasing on a daily basis hence there must
be proper equipment and machines that will be used to treat them. Due to the amount of work
that they do when dealing with cardiovascular patients, they suffer from back pains. They hurt
their backs when they are shifting bedridden sufferers or moving them among stretchers, bed,
and chairs since the sufferers need to be handled with care.
Cardiovascular sufferers tend to see the nurses as individuals who should be available at
the beck and call. Majority of the victims are usually dissatisfied with the service that the nurses
provide. Some patients often appear dissatisfied and angry at life because they might have
learned about the long-term effects of their cardiovascular conditions. This makes them despise
and disrespect the nurses many times. They claim that they don’t receive the respect that they
deserve from the cardiovascular patients (Ross, 2015). Due to this, they develop stress hence
they won't do their work as they are required. This will encourage disrespect and hatred towards
one another in the healthcare facility.
Cardiovascular diseases require adequate attention and a lot of hard work. Nurses are
always undervalued by the doctors, colleagues and the families of the cardiovascular patients
who are expecting them to be tireless angels who do not need a break. Nurses, both male and