Hypoglycemia, or blood sugar levels below 70 mg/dL, is a common problem that harms healthy patients. Critical diseases can cause fluctuations in blood glucose levels, impairing glycemic control in hospitalized patients. Even frequent screening of patients and the use of insulin therapy can cause blood glucose levels to drop excessively. Therefore, my interest concerning the topic is to determine whether the measures involved in educating patients about nursing fundamentals are effective. This can be done by comparing the level of hypo/hyperglycemia in patients utilizing nursing guidelines and those who do not utilize nursing treatments. Therefore, the essay aims to analyze episodes that will prove a reduction or remaining stable hypo/hyperglycemic.
Clinical Question: Is there a positive effect on patient health of a better understanding of the causes of the disease and the use of preventive measures?
Blood glucose levels are a vital indicator that must be monitored when one has diabetes. Normally, blood sugar levels fluctuate throughout the day; however, while a healthy body can handle excess sugar on its own, with diabetes, it needs help from the outside. Patients with this disease are constantly balancing two complications – the risks of hypo- and hyperglycemia. Ultimately, they can lead to the development of short- and long-term complications (Melnyk, 2019). That is why it is critical to investigate this topic and take the timely steps necessary to keep health within the normal range.
Moreover, timing is key to preventing these consequences, and implementing effective nurse-led programs is one of the most suitable solutions. Medical personnel must be well-trained and know all the risks and consequences, resulting in better health outcomes and lower costs of care by reducing the length of hospital stays and resources required. Furthermore, patients need to be made aware of all possible risks and how to avoid them. Understanding the causes and proper use of treatment protocols will not only promote progress, but also minimize the dangers of consequences. The nursing staff must be highly competent in glycemic control, which is possible because of existing forms of treatment. Nurse-driven management can make the necessary adjustments that can stabilize blood glucose levels. Increased attention to the care process can significantly improve issues.
The Iowa Model of Practice will be used in order to help health care providers translate research findings into clinical practice, improving outcomes for patients. I chose it because it will help the quality implementation of changes, as ‘The large number of nurses and organizations using the Iowa Model attests to its usefulness in practice’ (Melnyk, 2019). The first step is to identify an enigma point or knowledge-oriented area where a change in EBP might be warranted. These will be chosen based on risk management data and grounded on the central issue of hypo and hyperglycemia (Melnyk, 2019).
The next step in the Iowa Model involves determining if the problem is a priority for the organization. Since this obstacle is a great volume and costly, it will be highly preferred. Once the priority is determined, the next action is to form a team of members to help draft, evaluate, and perform the changes. It will include interested interdisciplinary participants outside of nursing. Their assignment will be to gather and critique relevant research related to the desired modifications and consequences.
The stakeholder in the Iowa Model of Evidence-based Practice to Promote Quality Care is the patient. This is because the stakeholder is the patient, and the quality of care is improved. Thus, if nurses’ awareness of the topic of diabetes increased, they would be able to provide quality care to patients and explain the basics to help them manage the disease on their own (Melnyk, 2019). The profits of the party align with the model because of the fact that, ultimately, the results of research should transfer into clinical practice, which will improve the treatments, patient health, and monitoring. If the model is successful, the use of survey results could be mandatory for all nurses, leading to improved patient health.
Reference
Melnyk, B. M. (2019). Evidence-based practice in nursing & healthcare: A guide to best practice. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.