Interviewer: Tell us about a healthcare program, within your practice. What are the costs and projected outcomes of this program?
Me: I am a nurse practitioner in a community health center. We recently implemented a program to provide hypertension education and management to our patients. The program is free to patients and is funded by a grant from the state.
The program includes a series of educational sessions on hypertension, as well as individual consultations with a nurse practitioner. Patients who participate in the program are also given access to free blood pressure monitoring and medication assistance.
The projected outcomes of the program include a reduction in the number of patients with uncontrolled hypertension, an improvement in the overall health of our patients, and a decrease in the cost of healthcare for our patients.
Interviewer: Who is your target population?
Me: Our target population is adults with hypertension. We specifically target patients who are uninsured or underinsured, as well as patients who have difficulty accessing healthcare.
Interviewer: What is the role of the nurse in providing input for the design of this healthcare program?
Me: Nurses played a key role in the design of this program. We provided input on the content of the educational sessions, as well as the format of the individual consultations. We also worked with the grant administrator to develop a budget for the program.
Nurses are uniquely positioned to provide input on the design of healthcare programs. We have a deep understanding of the needs of patients, as well as the challenges of providing healthcare in the community setting. We are also experts in evidence-based practice, which allows us to develop programs that are based on the best available research.
Interviewer: Reflect on advocacy efforts and the role of the nurse in relation to healthcare program design and implementation.
Me: Nurses play an important role in advocacy for healthcare programs. We can advocate for programs that meet the needs of our patients, as well as programs that are funded by public and private sources. We can also advocate for changes to the healthcare system that make it easier for patients to access care.
In the case of our hypertension program, we advocated for funding from the state. We also worked with the grant administrator to ensure that the program was designed in a way that would be easy for patients to access.
Nurses are the voice of the patient in the healthcare system. We are the ones who are at the bedside, providing care to patients. We are also the ones who see the gaps in the healthcare system. Nurses can use their advocacy skills to make sure that patients have access to the care they need.
I believe that nurses have a unique opportunity to shape the future of healthcare. We can use our knowledge, skills, and advocacy skills to design and implement healthcare programs that improve the health of our patients.
