What will be a lists of rationales for doing a DNP project on hypertension enhancing lifestyle management through patient educational interventions and Pender's Health Promotion Model? Please provide up to date references for rationales.

 

A study by Ugorji (2014) aimed in developing a Lifestyle Modification Toolkit to prevent and manage hypertension among African-American women between the ages of 20 to 45 years utilizing Nola J. Pender's Health Promotion Model. The Toolkit in the said study contained relevant information on a Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension (DASH-eating plan) and increased physical activities focusing on African American females between the ages of 20 to 45 years who are at risk for developing hypertension. The high prevalence of hypertension in African American women, as well as their lack of participation in traditional risk reduction programs, underscores the need for accessible health promotion and disease prevention program. The program was culturally integrated to provide lifestyle modification strategies, in which cultural competency training is required to provide quality care (Terry, 2012). Literature suggested that the DASH diet has the potential to significantly lower blood pressure among African American women (Spencer, Jablonski, & Loeb, 2012). In addition, for patients with hypertension, adequate physical activity is an important part of the lifestyle modification plan because it helps to prevent health problems. A DNP project like providing a toolkit which contains relevant information could be used as a resource to provide health promoting education to at risk individuals as well as hypertensive patients on the need for increased physical activities. Engaging in regular physical activity not only decreases the risk of heart disease, hypertension, obesity, and diabetes but it also helps to improve the burning of calories, which is beneficial to the musculoskeletal system, increases energy, and allows people to cope more easily with stress (CDC, 2012).

It can be noted that lifestyle modification is an evidence-based strategy to prevent and manage hypertension among the African American women (Barnes & Kimbro, 2012). The evidence-based nursing practice guideline developed from the DNP project acted as a template to prevent and manage hypertension in any setting, especially in the community and primary care setting (Ugorji, 2014). Noting that the DNP project was a community based project, nurses working in the community health setting could use the Toolkit as a framework to provide culturally tailored intervention to the African American women (Rigsby, 2011). Being the leaders in the health care system, DNP trained nurses can take the leadership role in confronting the effects of disparity on both consumers and health care providers by developing modules that can be used for EBP (Terry, 2012).

In relation to Pender's Health Promotion Model, it can be noted that the author (Ugorji, 2014) utilized the said model guided in assessing the perception of hypertension and barriers to the desired healthy choices, and the information in the Toolkit was tailored to improve blood pressure control. Moreover, the incorporation of the health promotion model concepts to the content and information in the Lifestyle Modification Toolkit allowed the African American women to appreciate and utilize the resource provided (Ugorji, 2014). According to Buchholz and Artinian (2009) the health promotion framework is an excellent model in diverse population because it explores how culture impacts health promoting behaviors. The theoretical prepositions of the health promotion model summarizes that people will commit to performing behaviors in which they anticipate will benefit them, based on their behavior specific cognitions, perceived barriers, perceived competence, and emotions (Pender, Murdaugh, & Parsons, 2010). The health promotion model focuses on the relationship between individual's characteristics, experiences, behavior specific cognitions, and behavioral outcomes. In a quasi-experimental study by Thompson, Berry, and Nasir (2009) collaborative intervention showed beneficial weight loss among African American women and positive influence on health promotion and disease prevention. In another control study by Hacihasanoglu and Gozum (2011) with African American women, using the health promotion model, result suggested lifestyle modifications strategies improved in both groups after educational sessions. In conclusion, Toolkits developed in the past among the target population for health promoting behaviors utilized the health promotion model as a guide.

In conclusion, the DNP advance practice role creates and maintains a focus on prevention and health maintenance through health teaching centered on promoting a healthy diet, exercise, safety, stress management, and the identification and treatment of existing health problems by prompt screening for disease. This exemplifies the importance of enhancing lifestyle management through patient educational interventions in preventing and improving hypertension among different patients. Furthermore, the development of nursing knowledge emphasizes a holistic approach that seeks to assess, plan, implement, and evaluate programs that will provide optimum wellness to patients (Zaccagnini & White, 2011). The DNP education is one of the terminal degrees in nursing that equips practitioners with these competencies by providing training, knowledge, skills and expertise required to be a change agent in the health care environment. Therefore, as DNP trained practitioners, they are well positioned to impact changes in the health care system. DNP-prepared nurses are well-equipped to fully implement evidence-based results generated from research to improve outcomes (Ugorji, 2014).