CHF: Problem Identification, Research Proposal Example

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a serious condition that requires immediate medical attention and consideration to establish a treatment plan. Nurses must provide expert knowledge and guidance in order to support effective patient care for this population group. However, nurses are not always able to offer the level of care and treatment that is necessary for these patients due to other exacerbating factors which may disrupt the treatment plan. Therefore, the development of person-centered care (PCC) must serve as a key priority for nurses working with these patients on a regular basis (Ekman et.al, 2012). This chronic condition may complicate treatment planning for nurses seeking solutions; therefore, it is necessary to address the needs of patients first and foremost in a comprehensive manner (Ekman et.al, 2012). Measuring the needs of this patient population requires an approach that is based upon the ability to recognize chronic symptoms, the uncertainty of this condition, and the ability to maintain health while facing this illness on a consistent basis (Dudas et.al, 2012). Therefore, quality of life should be of primary concern for nurses as they treat this group of patients to promote optimal health and wellbeing (Dudas et.al, 2012).

In order to effectively capture data associated with chronic CHF, it is important for nurses to address the common problems that these patients face and to consider gaps in knowledge that may lead to less than favorable outcomes for patients (Dudas et.al, 2012). It is expected that an evaluation of a group of existing CHF patients and the commonality of their symptoms may have a positive and realistic impact on care and treatment planning for this group (Dudas et.al, 2012). Therefore, the impact of person-centered care and treatment to promote consistency across patient groups must be considered in order to accomplish the desired objectives over the long term (Dudas et.al, 2012).

Solution Description

In order to accomplish the directives associated with improved patient-centered care for CHF patients, it is important for nurses to have the appropriate knowledge and understanding of the condition and its common symptoms (Fredericks et.al, 2010). This is best accomplished through a comprehensive educational effort that will support these needs at a larger level (Fredericks et.al, 2010). However, individualization is the key to providing the most effective treatment plan through the development of plans that are specific to each patient and his or her current needs in relation to the CHF diagnosis (Fredericks et.al, 2010). These developments are important because they support the demand for expanded educational opportunities for nurses in the area of CHF research and treatment alternatives (Fredericks et.al, 2010). Therefore, education is critical in the development of a research-based evaluation of CHF patients and the provision of person-centered care (Fredericks et.al, 2010).

Establishing a person-centered approach to CHF care and treatment requires effective health literacy and knowledge of the condition, not only from a nursing point of view, but also for patients (Westlake et.al, 2013). Therefore, it is expected that the proposed solution will be twofold in offering advanced knowledge and education for patients with CHF, as well as the nurses who support their care (Westlake et.al, 2013). With respect to existing practice methods, these efforts must demonstrate the impact long-term approaches to person-centered care for patients who possess chronic CHF symptoms so that their needs are met as effectively as possible (Westlake et.al, 2013). These practices are critical to the overall development and understanding of CHF and how it impacts patients on a daily basis (Westlake et.al, 2013). The measurement of these findings plays an important role in shaping person-centered treatment plans over the long term (Westlake et.al, 2013).

References

Dudas, K., Olsson, L.E., Wolf, A., Swedberg, K., Taft, C., Schaufelberger, M., and Ekman, I. (2012). Uncertainty in illness among patients with chronic heart failure is less in person-centered care than in usual care. European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, 0(0), 1-8, retrieved from http://www.researchgate.net/publication/234099422_Uncertainty_in_illness_among_patients_with_chronic_heart_failure_is_less_in_person-centred_care_than_in_usual_care/file/9fcfd50fce5de8cfcb.pdf

Ekman, I., Wolf, A., Olsson, L.E., Taft, C., Dudas, K., Schaufelberger, M., and Swedberg, K. (2012). Effects of person-centered care in patients with chronic heart failure: the PCC-HF study. European Heart Journal, 33(9), 1112-1119.

Fredericks, S., Beanlands, H., Spalding, K., and Da Silva, M. (2010). Effects of the characteristics of teaching on the outcomes of heart failure patient education interventions: a systematic review. European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, 9(1), 30-37.

Westlake, C., Sethares, K., and Davidson, P. (2013). How can health literacy influence outcomes in heart failure patients? Mechanisms and interventions. Current Heart Failure Reports, 10(3), 232-243.