NURS-FPX4900: Leadership, Collaboration, Communication, Change Management, and Policy Considerations

Leadership, Collaboration, Communication, Change Management, and Policy Considerations

HIV remains a major concern in the United States. The persistence means that there is still much to do to make progress in HIV promotion and education, prevention, and treatment. This project provides a broad overview of HIV, leadership, health policies, and ethical aspects associated with managing the condition. CDC (2022) indicated that there are an estimated 1,189,700 people in the United States living with HIV. About 87% know their status. The prevalence reveals racial disparities with African Americans at increased risk of infection. The group accounted for 42% of all new HIV diagnosis in 2020 with Hispanic accounting for 27% of new infections (CDC, 2022). Further, the young population between 13 and 24 years is the most affected by HIV. For instance, CDC indicated that young people accounted for 20% of new HIV diagnosis in 2020. The most affected are young gay and bisexual men accounting for 84% of new HIV diagnosis among young people aged 13 and 24. For deaths associated with HIV, the U.S records about 18,489. The largely affected regions are urban areas, which shows the need for increased surveillance to reduce the number of new infections.

Increased HIV promotion and education is necessary to make vulnerable populations aware of risk factors, prevention, and treatment interventions. The process promotes individual and collective commitment to identifying evidence-based and patient-centered practices and resources relevant for reducing new HIV diagnosis, complications, and deaths. This capstone project focuses on the need for patient empowerment through HIV self-management practices. The practice allows patients to adopt tailored interventions that allow them to monitor and control symptoms throughout the care process (Areri et al., 2020). Patients learn to improve quality, safety, and cost of care by adhering to lifestyle modifications, medications, and other strategies designed to prevent escalating symptoms. For this project, I will draw evidence from peer-reviewed journal articles and government publications. The reasons for selecting the sources include their authoritative nature, access to current findings on HIV and management practices, and ability to make informed conclusions from the evidence.

Leadership Practices and Change Management

Leadership is a priority area when designing and implementing HIV prevention, education, and treatment interventions. Competent leaders lead strategic, effective, and sustainable responses to HIV. The leaders have diverse skills that make them familiar with complexities of the condition including stigma and discrimination. As such, successful outcomes depend on leadership competencies that influence policy, advocacy, and decision-making. The right leaders understand stories, challenges, and solutions appropriate for improving quality of life for those living with HIV (Figueroa et al., 2021). In collaboration with communities, leaders address issues such as resource mobilization, human resource recruitment and training, and strategic planning that helps reduce cost of HIV management. For this reasons, this project focuses on transformational leadership. The style promotes motivation, collective aspirations, and compassion relevant for producing the desired outcomes.

The transformational leader inspires everyone to go beyond expectation. Individuals also embrace collaborative relationships based on results-oriented attitudes and commitment to creating positive changes. Focusing on interdisciplinary approach makes transformational leadership ideal for initiating changes associated with HIV management (Figueroa et al., 2021). The motivation and buy-in to a shared vision result in transformative change. The care team and relevant stakeholders envision a desired outcome and dedicate time and energy to achieving heathier individuals, families, and communities. The preventive nature of transformational leadership also makes it appropriate for initiating changes such as community-based prevention programs, education, and other programs designed to address health needs and disparities. Thus, this project focuses on change management based on the need to promote individual and community engagement, lower cost, and improve health equity for patients affected by HIV/AIDs.

Communication and Collaboration to Improve the Quality of HIV Management

Communication and collaboration determine healthcare professionals’ ability to understand patients and colleagues. The concepts remind the care team among them nurses, physicians, and nutritionists to initiate consultations and engagements that encourage positive behavior change and better treatment outcomes. According to Hurley et al. (2017), every element of HIV management depends on excellent communication and collaboration. The aim is to enhance adherence to recommended prevention and treatment interventions with the goal of viral suppression. Further, excellent interactions among healthcare professionals and patients produce positive knowledge and attitudes about testing, risk of HIV infection, self-management, and other aspects that improve decision-making (Crowley & Rohwer, 2021). Additionally, communication and collaboration promote access to treatment, link patients to primary care providers and specialists, and reduce stigma associated with HIV.

Patients appreciate the need to take action and seek much-needed preventive and treatment measures across the continuum. Communication and collaboration build trust, which leads to higher satisfaction with the clinical experience. The findings reveal the need for supportive relationships between health care professionals and patients to improve health outcomes. Patients benefit from active referral to relevant clinical support services that provide adequate support for retention of care (Crowley & Rohwer, 2021). Similarly, the care team strategizes with patients to identify new goals and healthy behaviors necessary to maximize care outcomes.

Nurse Practice Standards and Health Policy for HIV Management

Nurse practice standards remind professionals about obligations towards improving the quality, safety, and cost of HIV management. The aim is to encourage nurses to communicate with patients non-judgmentally. The care team learns to embrace patients and families values and preferences. Supportive care characterized by compassion and empathy dominate decision-making and relationship with patients across the continuum (Rouleau et al., 2019). Nurse practice standards also means initiating and maintaining open communication that encourages informed conversations about mental health, sexual behaviors, and other risks associated with HIV. Further, nurses learn to demonstrate interest in addressing health disparities, including structural issues that undermine the quality, safety, and cost of care.

This way, the care team offers flexible appointments, has accurate and updated patient contact details, and help patients and families to find resources to address unmet medical and non-medical needs.
Nurses use the practice standards to educate patients and empower them to design health goals such as healthy nutrition, mindfulness, and adherence to treatment across the continuum. Rouleau et al. (2019) indicated that nurse practice standard enable the care team to understand challenges that expose patients to anxiety, fear, and hopelessness. The authors reminded nurses about their obligation towards understanding patients’ health needs, including social, cultural, and psychosocial priorities. The practice standards also create pathways for interdisciplinary collaboration and proactive patient and family engagement to deliver compassionate, empathetic, and culturally appropriate care.

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) is among the most relevant policies that enable patients living with HIV to access quality, affordable, and safe care. The legislation strengthens interdisciplinary collaboration between primary care providers, specialists, and other stakeholders committed to reducing social and economic burden associated with HIV. ACA also promotes efficient utilization of health resources to allow more people to benefit from incentives available to reduce the cost of care (Ginossar et al., 2021; Satre et al., 2020).

Specifically, patients and families benefit from savings on medications, access to preventive care, screening, and counselling that support self-care. Additionally, ACA facilitates unrestricted access to Medicaid and flexible payment bundles that help promote positive behaviors across the continuum. Patients benefit from secure, stable, and affordable health insurance associated with ACA that seeks to advance equality for people living with HIV (Ginossar et al., 2021). The Affordable Care Act also enhances access to accurate and complete information on services available to prevent undesirable disease progression. The access to information enhances equity in accessing prescription drugs, preventive services, mental health care, and HIV management. Further, patients benefit from coordinated care designed to strengthen the quality of care when managing complex conditions.

Conclusion

HIV remains a serious concern for the United States. The condition reinforces the need for opportunities for addressing disparities that jeopardize access to medical and non-medical services. Critical investments in HIV prevention, wellness, surveillance, and community-based programs increase access to essential health services. Competent leadership, communication and collaboration, and adherence to nurse practice standards bolster commitment to reducing health disparities associated with HIV. Improving access to health coverage is another important consideration that enhances access to prescription drugs, preventive care, and HIV management. The Affordable Care Act is a viable option that supports access to quality, safe, and affordable care for patients living with HIV. This project focuses on coordinated and comprehensive care to strengthen the quality of care for people living with HIV.