Advocating for the Nursing Role in Program Design & Implementation

This report examines the crucial role of nurses in the design and implementation of healthcare programs, using a diabetes care program as a case study. The author highlights the nurses' contributions to patient education, advocacy, and involvement in program design, from pamphlet creation to conference logistics. The report emphasizes the importance of nurses' involvement in collaborative healthcare teams, including general practitioners and clinical managers. The author describes their personal efforts in advocating for program enhancements and ensuring patient needs are met, underscoring the value of nurses' expertise in improving program effectiveness and patient outcomes. The assignment advocates for greater recognition of nurses' roles beyond patient care, emphasizing their potential to shape healthcare programs more broadly.

Running head: Nursing
Nursing
Name of the Student
Name of the university
Author’s note

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Nursing
Advocating for the Nursing Role in Program Design and Implementation
 One of the most important and notable health care program is a diabetic care program
that took place for two days in out hospital setting. After the completion of the program,
the target audiences who were part of this program admitted reported greater awareness
of their lifestyle for the self-management of diabetes. People gained knowledge about the
etiology and management of diabetes. This health care program was cost effective and
the budget allocated was about 1500$, which included making of pamphlets, free diabetes
testing and the presence of some notable health care professionals.
 Our main target population were older adults within the age range 50 and above, with
blood sugar < 130mg/dl and having other comorbidities like obesity and hypertension.
The main rationale for choosing this group is that about 25 % of the US population more
than 55 years of age have diabetes. Furthermore, we have also focused on the associated
diseases like hypertension and obesity, because they are the most important risk factor for
developing diabetes.
 Nurses play an important role in educating people about the preventive measures of
diabetes. They might not be expert in deciding the budget like clinical manager, bur
definitely understands more about the care procedure, as they have to remain at the
bedside of the patient. In this program, the nurses played a great role in educating patients
about te self –care activities and exercises to the patients. They also provide referrals to
community services. In fact, they also played a great role in the prompt collection of the
samples and testing them.

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Nursing
 As we all know, that nurse can act as patient advocates. While inviting the target
audience to take part in this program, I personally contacted them and educated them,
why they should take up this education program. During his education program, I ensured
that the grievances and the questions of each of the patients are addressed. For example,
the exercises that is suitable for one patient might not be suitable for another patient. I
provided referrals to experts like occupational therapists and podiatrists.
Previously, it was decided that no free tests would be provided due to our tight budget, but I
insisted my seniors and the other stakeholders to include the same in our program. This attracted
many proactive participants.
 In a health care program implementation, normally, the role of the nurses are mainly
constricted to patient education and patient advocacy, but has not much to do with the design and
the implementation of the health care programs. In this health care program, we also participated
in the design implementation process, like starting from the design of the pamphlets to deciding
on the esthetic sense of the hall, where the conferences are held. The doctors who will be
attending this health care program were being invited by the nurses.
 Putting up a health care program is hectic as well as difficult as health care professionals
often have to work as a team. The main members of a health care team for putting up a diabetic
program would involve general practitioners, explaining about the etiology and the
pathophysiology of the disease, the way of lifestyle management of the disease, the possible
pharmacological interventions, or can check the patients. Nurses, to provide screen patients,
educating about the use of home based glucometer, obtain samples for blood test, a clinical
manager’s duty would be to decide on the budgets.

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Nursing