Assignment: Functional Health Discussion

Assignment: Functional Health Discussion

State of Virginia

Family nurse practitioners often care for older adults as they experience changes in functional health. Assessments may reveal that clients are unsafe in their current environment or that they may require additional assistance to remain at home. Carefully read the questions below and address each in your initial post.

Application of Course Knowledge: Answer all questions/criteria with explanations and detail.

Discuss the laws in your state related to the nurse practitioner’s (NP) role and responsibility in creating and signing advanced directives (ADs). Indicate if the NP can independently complete AD documents or a physician is required to sign or cosign the documents.

Consider clients you’ve encountered in practicum (or in your practice as a registered nurse). Identify at least ONE client who may have benefited from a referral to hospice or palliative care. Indicate why this client would have benefited from these services. Describe how as an NP you might approach the conversation with the clie

Discuss at least TWO recommendations you have for improving palliative and hospice care access to vulnerable and underserved populations in your community. 

Sholarly sources of <5yrs

Assignment: Functional Health Discussion Sample

Role of Family Nurse Practitioners in Signing Advanced Directives

            Nurse practitioners (NPs) in Virginia have a vital role in healthcare, specifically in the creation and authorization of advanced directives (ADs). Under Virginia law, Nurse Practitioners have the authority to autonomously fill out Advance Directive (AD) forms, such as living wills and durable powers of attorney for healthcare (Virginia Board of Nursing, 2023). They have the ability to encourage conversations with patients regarding end-of-life choices, offer relevant information, and verify the accuracy of these documents in reflecting the patient’s desires. Physicians are not obligated to endorse or co-sign advance directive paperwork that nurse practitioners have filled out. This enables Nurse Practitioners to actively participate in end-of-life care planning, aligning with their comprehensive approach to patient care.

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Identifying Clients Who Could Benefit from Hospice or Palliative Care

            During my nursing practicum in Virginia, I encountered a patient who would have greatly benefited from a referral to hospice or palliative care. The client in consideration was an elderly patient who had a medical background of cystic fibrosis (CF) and a propensity to be admitted to the hospital frequently as a result of exacerbations. Despite numerous attempts to help, the client’s condition worsened, leading to a considerable loss in their overall health and ability to operate. The client faced difficulties in performing basic tasks necessary for everyday life, such as showering and moving around, and their overall well-being was gradually declining.

As an NP, I would converse with this client by adopting a caring and empathic approach. I would commence a patient-centered discussion, underscoring the significance of their well-being and respect throughout this challenging phase of life. I would provide details regarding hospice and palliative care services, elucidating how these specialized programs can ameliorate their symptoms, augment their quality of life, and guarantee the preservation of their unique preferences. The discussion would center around collaborative decision-making, wherein the care plan would be guided by the client’s values and objectives, ensuring that it is in accordance with their preferences.

Recommendations for Improving Palliative and Hospice Care Access

A comprehensive strategy is essential to improve the availability of palliative and hospice care for disadvantaged and marginalized communities in Virginia. Two fundamental suggestions encompass community engagement and education, as well as cultural proficiency training. Implementing community outreach initiatives is crucial for enhancing public knowledge about the advantages of palliative and hospice care (Shalev et al., 2018). Healthcare professionals ought to engage in collaborative efforts with community organizations, local clinics, and faith-based institutions in order to effectively reach communities that lack adequate access to healthcare services. These initiatives should strive to educate healthcare professionals and the general public on the importance of initiating early conversations about end-of-life care, advanced directives, and the accessibility of palliative and hospice services. Through the distribution of information and active communication, barriers to accessing these crucial services can be lessened.

Healthcare providers, particularly NPs, should undergo thorough training in cultural competency. This training would provide them with the necessary skills to gain a deeper comprehension of the heterogeneous values, beliefs, and cultural nuances exhibited by patients from different origins (Nair & Adetayo, 2019). A strategy that is attuned to cultural sensitivities is crucial to overcome any cultural and language obstacles that might prevent communities from accessing palliative and hospice care. Moreover, healthcare organizations should actively pursue diversity in their personnel to guarantee that patients from diverse groups are understood and served effectively.

References

Nair, L., & Adetayo, O. A. (2019). Cultural competence and ethnic diversity in healthcare. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery – Global Open, 7(5). https://doi.org/10.1097/gox.0000000000002219

Shalev, A., Phongtankuel, V., Kozlov, E., Shen, M. J., Adelman, R. D., & Reid, M. C. (2018). Awareness and Misperceptions of Hospice and Palliative Care: A Population-Based Survey Study. American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine®, 35(3), 431–439. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049909117715215

Virginia Board of Nursing. (2023). Virginia Board of Nursing – Laws & Regulations. Virginia Board of Nursing. https://www.dhp.virginia.gov/Boards/Nursing/PractitionerResources/LawsRegulations/