Combatting CVD: Primary Healthcare Nurse Roles in India and Australia

This report provides a comparative analysis of the roles of primary healthcare nurses in India and Australia in addressing cardiovascular diseases (CVD) as a chronic condition. It begins by defining CVD and highlighting its prevalence and impact in both countries, citing statistics on mortality and hospitalizations. The report then delves into the specific roles of nurses, including risk assessment, prevention programs, interventions such as administering medications and promoting healthy lifestyles, and patient care. It contrasts the healthcare systems, resources, and challenges faced by nurses in each country, such as human resource deficits in India versus advanced models of nurse-coordinated care in Australia. The report also discusses the impact of factors like aging populations and economic crises, as well as the need for nurses to take leadership roles in shaping healthcare policies and improving patient outcomes. The report draws on various sources to support its claims and provides a comprehensive overview of the topic.

ASSESSMENT

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Compare and contrast the role of Primary Healthcare Nurse in India and Australia in combatting
CVD or Cardio Vascular diseases as a chronic condition...............................................................3
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6

Compare and contrast the role of Primary Healthcare Nurse in India and
Australia in combatting CVD or Cardio Vascular diseases as a chronic
condition.
Cardiovascular diseases refer to a class of heart or blood vessel involving diseases like
heart diseases, coronary artery diseases, stroke, peripheral artery diseases, venous thrombosis,
heart failure, and hypertension etc (Bansal, 2020). It develops as a chronic condition and requires
appropriate healthcare. As per AIHA (2020) in Australia, around 5.6% of the adults suffered
from more than one heart related conditions including stroke. In 2018, over 1 in 4 deaths were
because of Cardio vascular diseases and more than 1.2 million hospitalisations, 83% of which
consisted of people above the age of 55 (AIHA, 2020). When compared to India, Abdul-Aziz &
et.al (2019) state that the impact of CVD and associated risk factors which lead to a chronic
condition were estimated to be 54.5 million. The mortality rate is increasing with more 1 in 4
deaths due to stroke and ischemic heart disease (Abdul-Aziz & et.al, 2019).
In healthcare, a nurse’s role is care and advocation of healthy practices in order to support
ill people, combat diseases through care, using appropriate nursing interventions, administering
medications and treatments, record signs and monitoring the progress of patients (Sharma, 2019).
The nurses are the supporters, listeners, encouragers, advisors and directors on modifiable risk
factors when it comes to combatting cardiovascular diseases. Kavita, Thakur, Vijayvergiya &
Ghai (2020) illustrate that in context to India, human resource deficit in healthcare prevails, as it
is an emerging economy with high population and low- and middle-income country. The
proportion of CVDs is higher and Nurses play an important role is risk assessment, prevention
programs but the role is majorly limited unlike western world (Prabhakaran, Jeemon & Roy,
2016). However, in context to Australia, cardiac nurses play a significant role in the prevention,
diagnosis, interventions and treatment of heart diseases and other CVD conditions, helping
patients to recover from their cardiac event (Rice, Say & Betihavas, 2018).
Nurses carry out interventions like provision of oxygenation, promoting rest and activity,
facilitating fluid balance, promoting nutrition, administering medications, phlebotomy and
managing acute pulmonary edema (Kar, Subitha & Iswarya, 2015). In India, massive deficit of
2.4 million nurses is prevalent especially in rural areas with high poverty and low literacy rates.
Of the currently employed nurses, 58% do not possess required professional qualifications and
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60% of nurses are privately engaged in urban areas (Prabhakaran, Jeemon & Roy, 2016).
Although empowered healthcare practitioners can play a significant role in delivering
preventative cardiovascular services, a shortage of skilled staff and lack of access to advanced
education remain major challenges (Malik, 2018). The specialised nurses play a vital role in both
primary and secondary prevention of CVD throughout the Indian Healthcare system but there is
a need for nursing leadership in the country (Khetan & et.al, 2018). Improvement of role of
nurses can be done through developing interprofessional education for research and practice of
preventative cardiovascular nursing (Kar, Subitha & Iswarya, 2015).
In Australia, three has been an increase in the burden of heart failure which necessitated
alternative methods of coordinated, client-focussed and integrated primary healthcare (Stewart &
et.al,2015). Various models of nurse-coordinated care have helped Australian patients suffering
from CVDs. Nurses screen to assess patient’s risks of CVD development, assess family history
of blood pressure, cholesterol status and other coronary risks. A statin is initiated by Australian
nurses if high levels are identified by lowering LDL levels (Ross & et.al, 2017). Factors like
random blood glucose, BMI, smoking and alcohol intake are given importance while applying
nursing interventions and promoting adoption of healthy lifestyle Nurses have to keep their
professional development at par. Australian policies indicate a growing concern and commitment
to general practice for management of cardiovascular diseases, although nurses face a range of
system and professional barriers in extension of their roles(Grant & et.al, 2017).
As per Himmelfarb and et.al., (2016) in both India and Australia, there is a lack of
multidisciplinary approach for the cause of ineffective interventions in secondary prevention of
cardio vascular disease. However, nurses can potentially sum up to three different levels to
combat the CVD chronic conditions (Rice, Say & Betihavas, 2018). At technical level, nurses
have to aim cooperation with cardiologists to conduct diagnostic examinations and giving a
portrait of affiliated patient in context to risk factors (Himmelfarb & et.al,2016). Another level
would involve provision of information, helping face the disease and caring a and stepping in
during the evolution of the disease. Further, Himmelfarb & et.al, (2016) state that the nurse may
provide psychological support to both patient and family in event of acute illness. In both the
countries, aging population, global economic crisis and shortage of nurses represents challenges
in treatment and prevention of CVD, provision of good quality care and positive outcomes of
healthcare (Khetan & et.al., 2018). There is a need for nurses to take leadership roles in shaping
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the social and healthcare policies, increase efforts to mentor and educate, develop cultural
competencies, developing skills, integrating information acquired for patient care, efforts in
implementation of interventions etc, for combatting the chronic conditions (Kandula, Karthika &
Abraham, 2019).
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Abdul-Aziz, A. A., & et,al., (2019). Tackling the burden of cardiovascular diseases in India: The
essential diagnostics list. Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, 12(4),
e005195.
Bansal, M. (2020). Cardiovascular disease and COVID-19. Diabetes & Metabolic Syndrome:
Clinical Research & Reviews.
Grant, J., Lines, L., Darbyshire, P., & Parry, Y. (2017). How do nurse practitioners work in
primary health care settings? A scoping review. International journal of nursing
studies, 75, 51-57.
Himmelfarb & et.al., (2016). Expanding the role of nurses to improve hypertension care and
control globally. Annals of Global health, 82(2), 243-253.
Kandula, M., Karthika, P., & Abraham, R. (2019). Nurses Action towards Cardio Vascular
Emergencies. Asian Journal of Nursing Education and Research, 9(1), 121-126.
Kar, S. S., Subitha, L., & Iswarya, S. (2015). Palliative care in India: Situation assessment and
future scope. Indian journal of cancer, 52(1), 99.
Kavita, K., Thakur, J. S., Vijayvergiya, R., & Ghai, S. (2020). Nurses role in cardiovascular risk
assessment and communication: Indian nurses perspective. International Journal of
Noncommunicable Diseases, 5(1), 4.
Khetan, A., & et.al., (2018). Role development of community health workers for cardiovascular
disease prevention in India. Evaluation and program planning, 67, 177-183.
Malik, N. (2018). Authentic leadership–an antecedent for contextual performance of Indian
nurses. Personnel Review.
Prabhakaran, D., Jeemon, P., & Roy, A. (2016). Cardiovascular diseases in India: current
epidemiology and future directions. Circulation, 133(16), 1605-1620.
Rice, H., Say, R., & Betihavas, V. (2018). The effect of nurse-led education on hospitalisation,
readmission, quality of life and cost in adults with heart failure. A systematic
review. Patient education and Counseling, 101(3), 363-374.
Ross, A., & et.al., (2017). Nurses and health-promoting behaviors: Knowledge may not translate
into self-care. AORN journal, 105(3), 267-275.
Sharma, S. K. (2019). Lippincott manual of nursing practice. Wolters kluwer india Pvt Ltd.
Stewart, S., & et.al., (2015). Impact of a nurse‐led home and clinic‐based secondary prevention
programme to prevent progressive cardiac dysfunction in high‐risk individuals: the
Nurse‐led Intervention for Less Chronic Heart Failure (NIL‐CHF) randomized controlled
study. European journal of heart failure, 17(6), 620-630.
Online
Australian Institute of health and welfare, 2020 Available through:
<https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/heart-stroke-vascular-diseases/cardiovascular-health-
compendium/contents/how-many-australians-have-cardiovascular-disease >
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