Describe a self-care activity for chronic disease management.

Facing the rapid spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, state and local leaders have taken unprecedented measures to protect their communities, such as closing schools and businesses, banning large gatherings, and placing residents under shelter-at-home orders. These interventions are having wide-ranging effects on the health, economy, and social well-being of population (Rand.org 2020).
The impact od COVID-19pandemic has forever changed our health systems and policy.
518529
an hour ago
REPLY TO STUDENTS AS IF IT WERE ME GIVING THE COMMENTARY

Grace Chapman
Forum 7

Describe a self-care activity for chronic disease management.
I believe that there are many types of self-care activities for chronic disease management based on each person and their lifestyle. I believe that some of these activities include: having a healthy diet, getting 30 minutes of physical activity each day, getting enough rest, and staying hydrated. These four self-care activities can really make a difference in how your body feels and functions especially when you are in a chronic disease state, what you fuel your body with is probably how it is going to function and act towards you. I know when I do these things my body feels pretty good, but when I don’t do these things, it doesn’t feel great at all. Someone that has Diabetes or Hypertension for example (since we discussed these two chronic disease processes above), something that they can do is to be watching what they eat so that they can monitor their blood sugar and blood pressure so they can better control their chronic disease process.
A few other self-care activities for chronic disease management, not mentioned above are: trying yoga, doing things you love, spending time with those you love, participating in meditation, and counting your blessings. These things can help with more of the mental health aspect of having and dealing with a chronic disease.
How does a person with multiple chronic disease states impact the health care system?
A person with multiple chronic disease states has a big impact on the health care system in many ways. These individuals have spent many hours in hospitals, clinics, and doctors’ offices receiving care that they need. These individuals have helped the medical profession as well in many ways with the amount of research and the invention of more technology in order to provide quality care, patients and health care providers have been working together in many ways to better the health care system which is really awesome to see. These individuals have also spent a lot of money on medical bills and for the care they have received therefore contributing to the amount of money we as a country spend on health care costs. In the introduction information above it states that: “About 80% of older adults have one chronic condition.” “2/3 of all health care costs are for treating chronic illness.” “95% of health care costs for older Americans can be contributed to chronic disease.” After reading these statistics I wonder what these health care contributing costs would be if we could be better at preventing chronic disease in older Americans? Just a thought.
How does a medication assessment assist with self-management in multiple chronic disease patients?
A medication assessment can really assist with self-management in multiple chronic disease patients. This medication assessment will be used in order to help assess a patient’s knowledge and their ability to read and comprehend what is needed for the medications that they are taking. Those individuals who have multiple chronic diseases will probably have many medications they need to take at different times, different days, and different doses, and different routes and it is really important that they have an understanding of this in order to be able to self-manage their medications and their chronic conditions. I know that many people will use a medication holder with the days on it labeled and they or someone else will place their medications in them in order to help with understanding when to take them. If these individuals do not have an understanding of this, they may start to see their health and conditions worsen, and they won’t have the best outcomes they could if they did understand how their medications work and when to take them. This is definitely really important for these individuals, and for health care providers to educate on.
Forum 7 – Alexia Burnett

1. Describe how health literacy is relevant during COVID.
Health literacy is a person’s ability to find, understand, and use information and services to inform health related decisions and take appropriate actions for themselves and others. The pandemic showed that health literacy is important and relevant in two ways. First, globally, health literacy is as important for the prevention of communicable diseases as it is for non-communicable diseases. Second, along with system preparedness, individual preparedness is key for solving complex real-life problems. Health literacy might help people grasp the reasons behind the recommendations and reflect on the outcomes of their various possible actions. People who are health literate might have a better understanding of the precautions in place and be able to put that ahead of their own needs and desires.
2. What did changes to the scope of nursing practice due to impact COVID-19 care?
With patient numbers increasing and hospitals strained, many nurses have stepped directly onto the frontlines of the COVID-19 response or shifted to fill other voids the pandemic has created—often working longer, unpredictable hours. In some cases, nurses have crossed state lines to provide care, and retired nurses have returned to action. To maximize their utility, some changes have been necessary at the regulatory level, removing longtime barriers on both the modes and the scope of practice for nurses. Nurses also had to quickly adapt to telehealth technology to serve patients safely and efficiently during COVID-19.
3. Describe a policy change in response to COVID-19.
COVID-19 ushered in a lot of policy changes, including loosening of privacy standards, enhancing the scope of what nurses can do, and government stepping in to place restrictions on schools, businesses, and gathering of large groups. These policy changes have evolved quickly as conditions arise and change. Government mandates on masking continue to change as positive cases fluctuate.

Last Completed Projects