University: Clinical Policy and Legislation Impact on Patient Care

This assignment presents a report on the impact of clinical policy and the underpinning legislation on the quality of care, focusing on a patient case study. The report details how clinical policies, such as those from NICE, and relevant legislation influence healthcare practices, particularly in managing conditions like autonomic dysreflexia. It highlights the importance of healthcare professionals' adherence to established guidelines for effective patient care, including blood pressure monitoring and assessment of cardiovascular risk. Furthermore, the report emphasizes how nursing practitioners utilize their clinical reasoning and abilities, along with policy and legislation, to ensure patient safety and quality of care, demonstrating the link between professionalism, policy, and healthcare outcomes.

Clinical Policy and Underpinning
Legislation
Impact of Clinical Policy and the Underpinning Legislation on the Quality of Care
• The National Institute for Health and Care
Excellence (NICE) includes guidelines regarding
national guidance and advice to improve health and
social care.
• This policy framework of UK establishes the
principles of good practice in management and
conduct of health and social care research.
• As per the clinical guidelines of the NICE,
identification and treating primary hypertension or
high blood pressure among adults aged 18 years
and above.
• The aim of this guideline is to reduce the risks
related to cardio-vascular health conditions which
include heart attack and strokes.
• It assists the healthcare professionals to diagnose
hypertension in an accurate manner and to treat it in
an effective manner.
Patient Case History
• The blood pressure measurement should be taken
by healthcare professionals who possess adequate
initial training and periodic review of performance
as in the case of pulse irregularity, blood pressure
needs to be taken manually through direct
auscultation over brachial artery (De Andrade et al.,
2013).
• Blood pressure should be measured in both the
arms and if it is 140/90 mmHg or higher, second
measurement is required.
• While waiting to confirm the clinic blood pressure,
investigations for target organ damage and formal
assessment of cardio-vascular risk should be carried
out.
• The above mentioned guidelines provide the
clinical interventions and standards to be followed
when a patient with high blood pressure is admitted
to the hospital.
• All these primary standards should be followed
religiously because excessive increase in blood
pressure can result into stroke, cardiac arrest and
even in the death of the patient.
References
Benner, P., Hughes, R.G. & Sutphen, M., 2011. Clinical
reasoning, decision-making, and action: Thinking
critically and clinically. In Patient safety and quality: An
evidence-based handbook for nurses. Agency for
Healthcare Research and Quality (US). pp.1-87.
Clarke, S. & Donaldson, N., 2011. Chapter 25 Nurse
Staffing and Patient Care Quality and Safety. In Patient
Safety and Quality: An Evidence-Based Handbook for
Nurses. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
(US). pp.1-25.
De Andrade, L.T. et al., 2013. Autonomic dysreflexia
and nursing interventions for patients with spinal cord
injury. Revista da Escola de Enfermagem da USP,
47(1), pp.93-100.
Patient Care
• The nursing practitioner utilized his abilities and
clinical reasoning as soon as the patient was
admitted with complaints of severe headache,
flushed feeling, blurred vision, nasal congestion and
sweating.
• He measured his blood pressure precisely and noted
it and took measurement two to three times in order
to confirm, as the issue of high blood pressure is
considered as highly critical because it seems
common but becomes the reason behind serious
health issues.
• He then checked his previous medical history from
where, it was found that the patient holds the
history of spinal injury (Benner et al., 2011).
• Considering it to be as the case of Autonomic
Dysreflexia on the basis of symptoms and high
blood pressure, he adopted the measures to reduce
the blood pressure of the patient as early as possible
• Following the standards and procedures of the UK
in the context of patient, he ensured that safety and
health of the patient could be prioritized at all costs
• After informing the senior doctors, he puts every
possible effort to safeguard the life of the patient
(Clarke & Donaldson, 2011).
• In this manner, clinical policy and the supporting
legislation of the UK has been utilized by the
nursing practitioner to provide quality care to the
patient suffering from autonomic dysreflexia.