Posted: February 13th, 2025

Addressing Diabetes Management in Families: A Capstone Project Focused on Leadership, Collaboration, and Policy/j9e6z

Addressing Diabetes Management in Families: A Capstone Project Focused on Leadership, Collaboration, and Policy

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic condition that affects millions of individuals worldwide, with significant implications for patients, families, and healthcare systems. Effective diabetes management requires a multifaceted approach that includes lifestyle modifications, adherence to treatment plans, and ongoing support from healthcare providers. However, managing diabetes within a family context presents unique challenges, as it often involves addressing the needs of multiple individuals while considering their shared environment and dynamics. This capstone project focuses on diabetes management in families, exploring the problem from leadership, collaboration, communication, change management, and policy perspectives. The goal is to identify evidence-based strategies that can improve outcomes for families dealing with diabetes, while also addressing the broader implications for nursing practice and healthcare policy.

Defining the Problem
Diabetes management in families is a complex and multifaceted issue that requires a comprehensive approach. According to the American Diabetes Association (2021), diabetes affects approximately 34.2 million Americans, with many cases going undiagnosed. The condition is associated with numerous complications, including cardiovascular disease, kidney failure, and neuropathy, which can significantly impact the quality of life for patients and their families. Within a family context, diabetes management often involves coordinating care for multiple individuals, addressing lifestyle changes, and ensuring adherence to treatment plans.

The problem is further compounded by barriers such as limited access to healthcare resources, resistance to change, and socioeconomic factors that can hinder effective management. For example, families with low income may struggle to afford medications or healthy food options, while those in rural areas may face challenges accessing specialized care. These barriers highlight the need for targeted interventions that address the unique needs of families dealing with diabetes.

Relevance to Nursing Practice
As a baccalaureate-prepared nurse, addressing diabetes management in families is highly relevant to my practice. Nurses play a critical role in educating patients and their families about diabetes, providing ongoing support, and advocating for policy changes that improve access to care. Evidence from peer-reviewed literature underscores the importance of nursing interventions in improving diabetes outcomes. For instance, Powers et al. (2020) emphasize the role of diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) in helping patients and families adopt healthy behaviors and adhere to treatment plans.

However, the literature also highlights gaps in current practices, particularly in addressing the unique needs of families. For example, Wright (2022) notes that many diabetes education programs focus on individual patients rather than families, which can limit their effectiveness. By addressing these gaps, nurses can develop more holistic and family-centered approaches to diabetes management.

Barriers to Evidence-Based Practice
Implementing evidence-based practices in diabetes management is often hindered by various barriers. Resistance to change is a common challenge, as patients and families may be reluctant to adopt new behaviors or treatment plans. Limited resources, such as access to healthcare providers or educational materials, can also impede effective management. Additionally, socioeconomic factors, such as poverty and food insecurity, can create significant obstacles for families dealing with diabetes.

Research has tested the effectiveness of nursing standards and policies in addressing these barriers. For example, the American Diabetes Association (2021) has developed standardized care protocols that emphasize the importance of patient-centered care and interdisciplinary collaboration. These protocols have been shown to improve patient outcomes and reduce hospital readmissions, highlighting the value of evidence-based practices in diabetes management.

The Role of Nurses in Policy Making
Nurses play a critical role in shaping healthcare policy, particularly in areas related to chronic disease management. The Institute of Medicine (2011) emphasizes the importance of nurse leadership in advocating for policies that improve access to care and promote patient-centered practices. For example, nurses can advocate for policies that expand telehealth services, which have been shown to improve access to care for diabetic patients in rural areas (Bilberry, 2022).

Local, state, and federal policies also have a significant impact on nursing practice. For instance, changes in reimbursement policies can influence the availability of diabetes education programs, while legislation related to telehealth can expand the scope of nursing interventions. By engaging in policy making, nurses can help create a healthcare system that better meets the needs of patients and families dealing with diabetes.

Leadership Strategies for Improving Outcomes
Effective leadership is essential for addressing the challenges of diabetes management in families. Transformational leadership, which emphasizes collaboration, innovation, and empowerment, has been shown to improve team performance and patient outcomes (Quigley, 2024). Leaders must advocate for resources, support evidence-based practices, and foster a culture of continuous improvement.

Collaboration and communication are also critical components of effective leadership. Interdisciplinary teamwork, involving healthcare providers, social workers, and community organizations, can help address the complex needs of families dealing with diabetes. Clear communication and stakeholder engagement are essential for implementing change and ensuring that interventions are aligned with the needs of patients and families.

Change Management Strategies
Implementing change in diabetes management requires a strategic approach that addresses the unique needs of families. Change management strategies should focus on clear communication, stakeholder engagement, and ongoing evaluation. For example, nurses can use the Health Belief Model to understand patient behaviors and develop interventions that address perceived barriers and benefits (Powers et al., 2020).

Additionally, nurses can leverage technology to support change management. Telehealth platforms, for instance, can provide families with access to education and support, while also facilitating communication between healthcare providers and patients. By adopting a proactive and patient-centered approach, nurses can help families overcome barriers to effective diabetes management.

Conclusion
Diabetes management in families is a complex and multifaceted issue that requires a comprehensive approach. By addressing the problem from leadership, collaboration, communication, change management, and policy perspectives, nurses can develop evidence-based strategies that improve outcomes for patients and their families. Effective leadership, interdisciplinary collaboration, and patient-centered care are essential for overcoming barriers and promoting sustainable change. As a baccalaureate-prepared nurse, I am committed to advocating for policies and practices that support families dealing with diabetes, while also contributing to the broader goal of improving healthcare outcomes.

References
American Diabetes Association. (2021). Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes—2021 Abridged for Primary Care Providers. Clinical Diabetes, 39(1), 14-43.

Bilberry, K. (2022). Strategies Telehealth Care Managers Can Use to Reduce Healthcare Costs for Patients with Chronic Diabetes (Doctoral dissertation, Colorado Technical University).

Institute of Medicine. (2011). The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health. National Academies Press.

Powers, M. A., Bardsley, J., Cypress, M., Duker, P., Funnell, M. M., Fischl, A. H., … & Vivian, E. (2020). Diabetes self-management education and support in adults with type 2 diabetes: A consensus report of the American Diabetes Association. Diabetes Care, 43(7), 1636-1649.

Quigley, E. (2024). Development and Evaluation of a Nurse Leader Directed Postpartum Diabetes Screening Initiative in Patients with Gestational Diabetes (Doctoral dissertation, Wilmington University (Delaware)).

Wright, S. L. (2022). Diabetes Family-Inclusion Education in the Outpatient Clinic.

Sanders, C. G. (2023). Development of a Comprehensive Staff Development Program About Outpatient Diabetes Clinic Care for Patients With Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Sisson, E. M., Pamulapati, L. G., Bucheit, J. D., Zimmerman, K. M., Dixon, D. L., Holdford, D. A., & Salgado, T. M. (2024). Integrating real-world skills and diabetes lifestyle coach training into a revised health promotion and communications course. Currents in Pharmacy Teaching and Learning, 16(6), 445-452.

Smarth, J. M. (2022). Effective Management of Diabetes Mellitus Type II in a Military Treatment Facility. Walden University.

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Addressing Diabetes Management in Families: A Capstone Project Focused on Leadership, Collaboration, and Policy

In a 5–7 page written assessment define the patient, family, or population health problem that will be the focus of your capstone project. This problem should be specific, measurable, and relevant to current healthcare challenges. Assess the problem from a leadership, collaboration, communication, change management, and policy perspective. Plan to spend approximately 2 direct practicum hours meeting with a patient, family, or group of your choice to explore the problem and, if desired, consulting with subject matter and industry experts. – FAMILY/DIABETES

Identify the patient, family, or group you want to work with during your practicum. Building a strong rapport with the chosen individual or group is essential for effective collaboration. The patient you select can be a friend or a family member. You’ll work with this patient, family, or group throughout your capstone project, focusing on a specific health care problem. Begin surveying the scholarly and professional literature to establish your evidence and research base, inform your assessment, and meet scholarly expectations for supporting evidence. This literature review will help you identify gaps in current practices and potential solutions.

Define a patient, family, or population health problem that’s relevant to your practice. Summarize the problem you’ll explore. For instance, diabetes management in families often involves addressing lifestyle changes and adherence to treatment plans. Identify the patient, family, or group you intend to work with during your practicum. Provide context, data, or information that substantiates the presence of the problem and its significance and relevance to the patient, family, or population. For example, diabetes prevalence rates and associated complications can highlight the urgency of the issue.

Explain why this problem is relevant to your practice as a baccalaureate-prepared nurse. Analyze evidence from peer-reviewed literature and professional sources that describes and guides nursing actions related to the patient, family, or population problem you’ve defined. This analysis will help you align your interventions with best practices. Note whether the authors provide supporting evidence from the literature that’s consistent with what you see in your nursing practice. Explain how you would know if the data are unreliable. Unreliable data often lacks consistency or is not supported by credible sources.

Describe what the literature says about barriers to the implementation of evidence-based practice in addressing the problem you’ve defined. Common barriers include resistance to change and limited resources. Describe research that has tested the effectiveness of nursing standards and/or policies in improving patient, family, or population outcomes for this problem. Such research often highlights the importance of standardized care protocols.

Describe current literature on the role of nurses in policy making to improve outcomes, prevent illness, and reduce hospital readmissions. Nurses play a critical role in advocating for patient-centered policies. Describe what the literature says about a nursing theory or conceptual framework that might frame and guide your actions during your practicum. For example, the Health Belief Model could be used to understand patient behaviors.

Explain how state board nursing practice standards and/or organizational or governmental policies could affect the patient, family, or population problem you’ve defined. These standards often dictate the scope of nursing interventions. Describe research that has tested the effectiveness of these standards and/or policies in improving patient, family, or population outcomes for this problem. Effective policies often lead to better patient adherence and outcomes.

Describe current literature on the role of nurses in policy making to improve outcomes, prevent illness, and reduce hospital readmissions. Nurses are increasingly recognized as key stakeholders in healthcare policy. Describe the effects of local, state, and federal policies or legislation on your nursing scope of practice, within the context of this problem. For example, telehealth policies have expanded access to care for diabetic patients.

Propose leadership strategies to improve outcomes, patient-centered care, and the patient experience related to the patient, family, or population problem you’ve defined. Effective leadership fosters collaboration and innovation. Discuss research on the effectiveness of leadership strategies. Transformational leadership, for instance, has been shown to improve team performance.

Define the role that you anticipate leadership must play in addressing the problem. Leaders must advocate for resources and support evidence-based practices. Describe collaboration and communication strategies that you anticipate will be needed to address the problem. Interdisciplinary teamwork is crucial for comprehensive diabetes management.

Describe the change management strategies that you anticipate will be required to address the problem. Implementing change often requires clear communication and stakeholder engagement.

References:

American Diabetes Association. (2021). Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes—2021 Abridged for Primary Care Providers. Clinical Diabetes, 39(1), 14-43.

Bilberry, K., 2022. Strategies Telehealth Care Managers Can Use to Reduce Healthcare Costs for Patients with Chronic Diabetes (Doctoral dissertation, Colorado Technical University).

Institute of Medicine. (2011). The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health. National Academies Press.

Powers, M. A., Bardsley, J., Cypress, M., Duker, P., Funnell, M. M., Fischl, A. H., … & Vivian, E. (2020). Diabetes self-management education and support in adults with type 2 diabetes: A consensus report of the American Diabetes Association. Diabetes Care, 43(7), 1636-1649.

Quigley, E., 2024. Development and Evaluation of a Nurse Leader Directed Postpartum Diabetes Screening Initiative in Patients with Gestational Diabetes (Doctoral dissertation, Wilmington University (Delaware)).

Wright, S.L., 2022. Diabetes Family-Inclusion Education in the Outpatient Clinic.

Sanders, C.G., 2023. Development of a Comprehensive Staff Development Program About Outpatient Diabetes Clinic Care for Patients With Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Sisson, E.M., Pamulapati, L.G., Bucheit, J.D., Zimmerman, K.M., Dixon, D.L., Holdford, D.A. and Salgado, T.M., 2024. Integrating real-world skills and diabetes lifestyle coach training into a revised health promotion and communications course. Currents in Pharmacy Teaching and Learning, 16(6), pp.445-452.

Smarth, J.M., 2022. Effective Management of Diabetes Mellitus Type II in a Military Treatment Facility. Walden University.