Assessing the Problem- Leadership, Collaboration, Communication, Change Management, and Policy Considerations Part 1 Problem Summary

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the problem of concern for this capstone project. The disease is incurable and progressive. It affects an individual’s thought process, language, and ability to recall. Poorly managed AD progresses to the severe form and impedes a person’s ability to execute activities of daily living. ALZ.org (n.d.) reports that AD accounts for about sixty to eighty percent of cases of dementia. Additionally, ALZ.org (n.d.) reports that AD is common among those aged above sixty-five years. However, it should not be characterized by the aging process. Hire our assignment writing services in case your assignment is devastating you.

Patient Identification

The patient is a seventy-four-year-old Hispanic American with AD. She is accompanied by her spouse and two children. According to her family, the patient was diagnosed with AD five years ago. They report that she has struggled with medication adherence for the past five years. Currently, she presents with muscle twitches, confusion, and vocalization of repetitive statements. Further evaluation reveals that the patient experiences difficulty recognizing her children. Her spouse reports that the patient has demonstrated anterograde amnesia over the past two months. Her thought process and impulse control are preserved. As such, the patient is likely to have moderate Alzheimer’s disease.

Context Data

As earlier mentioned, ALZ.org (n.d.) reports that AD accounts for about sixty to eighty percent of cases of dementia. More than five million Americans live with the disease (CDC.gov, 2020). Estimates reveal that the prevalence of AD will triple to more than 14 million cases by 2060 (CDC.gov, 2020). The disease is not a common characteristic of the aging process. However, the risk of getting the disease increases with age. According to CDC.gov (2020), the prevalence of AD among people aged above sixty-five years doubles every five years. AD is the fifth etiology of death among Americans aged sixty-five years and above (CDC.gov, 2020). It has an ethnic predilection. It has the highest prevalence among African Americans (about fourteen percent) than Hispanic whites (about twelve percent) and non-Hispanic whites (about ten percent) (CDC.gov, 2020). The disease has a significant economic impact. CDC.gov (2020) reports that the annual cost of managing AD ranges from about $160 billion to more than $200 billion.

Uncontrolled AD is associated with poor outcomes. Firstly, it worsens the prognosis of the disease and hastens the progress from mild to severe form of the disease. Secondly, it predisposes patients to various mental health problems such as depression, paranoia, and anxiety (Mok et al., 2020). Thirdly, it impedes patients’ ability to complete their activities of daily living, such as feeding and bathing (Mok et al., 2020). Fourthly, it predisposes patients to complications such as pressure ulcers and pneumonia (Mok et al., 2020).

Relevance to a Baccalaureate-Prepared Nurse

Nurses are important stakeholders in the management of AD. They perform various roles such as patient and family education, screening of patients, formulation of nursing care plans, and administration of medication. Patient education focuses on the importance of adherence to the treatment plan and when to seek medical advice. Screening facilitates the diagnosis and staging of AD. Nursing training cultivates a holistic care approach among learners. This enables them to develop patient-centered care plans and administer medication safely. By so doing, they optimize the management of AD and improve patient outcomes.

Peer-Reviewed Literature

Alzheimer’s disease is an incurable disease that requires perpetual patient follow-up. To optimize patient management, nurses perform various roles. Firstly, they conduct patient and family education. In this context, they emphasize adherence to the treatment plan, identifying potential adverse effects, mitigation of these effects, and when to seek urgent medical care (Hope, 2020). Secondly, nurses are involved in patient screening. As a result, they facilitate the diagnosis and staging of AD. This is important because it forms the basis for developing patient-centered care plans. Thirdly, they are involved in safe medication administration. This applies to patients admitted to the hospital and outpatients. Safe medication administration is also associated with optimal patient outcomes and a good prognosis (Hope, 2020). The evidence is harmonious with findings from my current practice. To determine the credibility of the data, I evaluated the currency (published within the past five years), the purpose of the articles, and the authority of the authors.