Name
Capella University
NURS-FPX 4900 Capstone project for Nursing
Prof. Name
Date
Hello, my name is _______, and this is my video reflection for the RN-to-BSN Capstone Project. The project was conducted completely voluntarily and it was not compensated in any manner. In my practicum, I carried out a home-based intervention plan during which I was able to address my uncle Daniel, who had completed his recovery journey with COVID-19 and had diabetes and Hypertension (HTN). I engaged with him after my working hours. According to Abid et al. (2023), there was an elevated risk of developing severe COVID-19 among patients with diabetes and elevated blood pressure.
Deaths were 28% among people with diabetes and 26% among people with high blood pressure compared to 15% among non-diabetics. Individuals affected by the two conditions had the highest mortality (35%) and were more prone to be admitted to the ICU. They also had a longer hospital stay, approximately 12 days, compared to 9 days for others (Abid et al., 2023). This reflection will document the planning and delivery of the intervention, including comments and experiences that will help me grow as a nurse through this project.
The technology-supported, home-based intervention developed for Daniel resulted in significant improvements in his satisfaction and quality of life throughout the recovery period following COVID-19, as well as in the management of his chronic conditions. The feedback was gathered through telecheck-ins with Daniel and his caregiver, his wife. As Daniel said, the intervention made him feel in control and independent of anxiety. He especially appreciated the fact that remote monitoring instruments, such as a pulse oximeter and blood pressure monitor, were available.
The tools enable the monitoring of health status and the sharing of data with care providers via the Bluetooth connection (Alboksmaty et al., 2022). He said that he was assured that his feelings of being watched helped him to relax, knowing that someone was observing his condition. Moreover, the COVID Coach mobile application helped Daniel to use medication reminders and breathing exercises, and he would like to use it even to manage his diabetes and hypertension. The app adds long-term value to the intervention in treating chronic disease and improving health literacy (DeVylder et al., 2023).
His wife also found the intervention useful. The virtual education sessions made her more confident in her caregiving role since she learned how to protect and support her husband. She also appreciated that the chat was frequent and easy to keep in touch with, and she felt less stressed knowing that her husband was doing well through the program, rather than having to make a trip to the hospital. Important characteristics that both Daniel and his wife commended about the intervention include its clarity, emotional support, and the focus on the patient. Their testimonies revealed that the intervention had increased their health confidence and communication, had de-stressed them, and had provided them with permanent tools they could draw on to improve their health and recovery.
In preparing and conducting my capstone project, I utilized up-to-date evidence and peer-reviewed literature that discusses optimal COVID-19 treatment for high-risk patients with chronic diseases. The studies conducted by Groom et al. (2021) and Chen et al. (2021) demonstrated the effectiveness of telehealth and home-based learning in reducing the number of hospitalizations and encouraging patients to adhere to their medication regimen. The intervention was directly informed by these findings, which included symptom monitoring tools, virtual education, and mobile health apps, such as COVID Coach, that enabled self-monitoring and management of symptoms, medication schedules, and stress.
Additionally, the evidence-based Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) model and the Kotter 8-Step Change Model were applied to support the use of structure in the implementation process and behavior change. Another point that the literature focused on is the effectiveness of family participation and shared decision-making in enhancing health outcomes (Dukhanin et al., 2023). It influenced the approach to including Daniel’s caregiver in the entire process. By combining evidence-based practices and strategies with effective tools, the intervention was grounded in best practices. It demonstrated the ability to address Daniel’s specific needs in a safe, patient-centered, and sustainable manner.
Through my capstone project, I was able to utilize healthcare technology to improve the clinical outcomes as well as the care of Daniel, a COVID-19 patient with comorbid conditions of diabetes and hypertension. Remotely monitored systems, including a Bluetooth-enabled pulse oximeter and blood pressure device, supported healthy changes in vital signs monitoring, which could be tracked daily to provide Daniel and his care team with an opportunity to respond quickly. The other tool, the COVID Coach mobile application, was also essential because it helped Daniel take his medication, track his symptoms, manage stress, and feel more in control and committed to his recovery (Alboksmaty et al., 2022; DeVylder et al., 2023).
Telehealth consultations played a central role in the success of the intervention, delivering an easy-to-access and secure platform for connecting, educating, and coordinating in real-time. Such tools not only saved the caregiver unnecessary trips to the hospital but also enabled them to remain knowledgeable and engaged in Daniel’s care, while not feeling overwhelmed. The use of digital health platforms facilitated transparency, prompt decision-making, and continuity, which enhanced Daniel’s recovery progress and emotional status (Bouabida et al., 2022).
Moving forward, future enhancements in the field of technology use in healthcare would include the ability to have all patient data contained on a single, easy-to-use dashboard that is available to both the care team and the patient. That would make communication easy, and there would be no necessity to move between numerous apps or devices. Moreover, the ability to use language and employ accessibility features in health applications may enhance functionality for diverse populations. This project has demonstrated the effectiveness of health technology when applied thoughtfully, and it has also provided insight into areas where such solutions can enhance equity and efficiency in current care models, as well as increase patient engagement (Bouabida et al., 2022).
Health policy significantly contributed to the strategy development and execution of the capstone project. Some aspects of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) federal guidelines were incorporated into the essential components of the intervention. It included infection control measures, telehealth, and chronic disease management as part of the COVID-19 recovery effort. I was able to introduce telehealth as an option due to CMS reimbursement policies for virtual care, which can be used to monitor and educate patients, ensuring they are healthy (Salmanizadeh et al., 2022). Moreover, the ethical, evidence-based, and scope of practice reasons for the intervention were guaranteed by my compliance with the American Nurses Association (ANA) standards and the state Nursing Practice Act (NPA).
The project has contributed to the formulation of policy by demonstrating how nurse-led, home-based interventions incorporating technology can reduce hospital readmissions and improve patient outcomes, particularly for populations that receive less or inadequate care due to medical conditions or other factors. Future policies can emphasize the incorporation of telehealth, mobile health apps, and caregiver education for managing chronic diseases and infectious diseases. The documented results and patient feedback regarding the intervention can be utilized to support these policies.
As a nurse, I recognize that my contribution extends beyond direct and in-person patient care, and nurses must also advocate for policies that facilitate safe, equitable, and cost-effective care delivery. The project reminds that nurses must engage in policy implementation by ensuring that practice aligns with existing standards and efforts aimed at improving quality. The project highlighted the important role of frontline nurses in contributing to policy development. Their efforts included providing data, sharing patient experiences, and creating practical innovations to guide policymakers in the health system and public health planning (Ma, 2022).
The results of the capstone project strongly aligned with expectations, as it effectively increased patient engagement, improved symptom management, and enhanced emotional well-being. I was hoping that a telehealth and digital-enabled, home-based care plan would be of benefit to Daniel, and I have been proven right. He demonstrated increased treatment adherence, efficient utilization of monitoring devices, and greater confidence in handling both COVID-19 and his chronic conditions. The success of the intervention was also confirmed by statements of his caregiver about the elimination of stress and greater engagement in care choices. My biggest surprise was that I did not expect the app and the issues Daniel was familiar with to provide such emotional security and control over the situation of using the COVID Coach.
The above results indicate the necessity to assess the effectiveness of integrating clinical interventions into mental health and caregiver support. From this experience, it is believed that the intervention has great potential to serve as a best practice model for managing COVID-19 among patients with comorbidities. It is affordable, technology-based, and can be scaled and tailored to fit most patients in underserved populations or those with limited access to in-person care. The strategy is transferable to other analogous environments where chronic disease management overlaps with acute infectious disease, and it could serve as a model of healthcare that aims to achieve enhanced outcomes with fewer resource demands.
I have passed and recorded nine hours of practicum in the Capella Academic Portal Volunteer Experience Form. This time was used for active communication through telehealth visits, arranging remote monitoring and education calls, and assessing progress via phone calls. The time also involved working together and helping to plan the effectiveness of the intervention through patient feedback. All the operations were related to the learning outcomes and clinical needs of the BSN required capstone experience.
I made personal and professional development as I progressed through the project and the RN-to-BSN program. I increased my capacity to practice evidence-based medicine, lead patient-centered interventions, and collaborate with interdisciplinary teams. This experience enhanced my ability to make clinical decisions, communicate effectively, and utilize technology to deliver patient care. I also gained a better understanding of health policy, quality improvement, and the role of nurses in advocacy and leadership. The program has provided me with both the knowledge and attitude necessary to drive my progress in practice and positively impact patient outcomes.
To summarize, this capstone experience has enhanced my understanding of individualized care, the use of technology into patient diagnosis and treatment processes, and evidence-based practice. It emphasized how nurses can improve patient outcomes through innovation, education, and compassion. It is a privilege to develop as a professional and contribute something significant to my patients’ recovery process.
Abid, A., Umar, A., & Qamar, S. (2023). Disease outcomes of COVID-19 in diabetic and hypertensive patients during the hospital stay. Cureus, 15(10), e46943. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.46943
Alboksmaty, A., Beaney, T., Elkin, S., Clarke, J. M., Darzi, A., Aylin, P., & Neves, A.L. (2022). Effectiveness and safety of pulse oximetry in remote patient monitoring of patients with COVID-19: A systematic review. The Lancet Digital Health, 4(4), e279–e289. https://doi.org/10.1016/s2589-7500(21)00276-4
Bouabida, K., Lebouché, B., & Pomey, M.-P. (2022). Telehealth and COVID-19 pandemic: An overview of the telehealth use, advantages, challenges, and opportunities during COVID-19 Pandemic. Healthcare, 10(11), 2293. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10112293
Chen, Y., Laan, P. A. V., & Heher, Y. K. (2021). Using the model for improvement and plan-do-study-act to effect SMART change and advance quality. Cancer Cytopathology, 129(1), 9–14. https://doi.org/10.1002/cncy.22319
DeVylder, E. K., Breda, K. L., & Pietrzak, R. H. (2023). Implementation of a self-help mobile mental health app in COVID-19 frontline health care workers: A quality improvement project. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apnu.2023.05.002
Dukhanin, V., Dy, S. M., Sharma, R., Vass, M., Zhang, A., Bass, E. B., & Rosen, M. (2023). Patient and Family Engagement: Rapid Response. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (US). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK597671/
Groom, L. L., McCarthy, M. M., Stimpfel, A. W., & Brody, A. A. (2021). Telemedicine and telehealth in nursing homes: An integrative review. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 22(9), 1784–1801. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamda.2021.02.037
Ma, A. (2022). Original article the roles of community health nurses’ in covid-19 management in Indonesia: A qualitative study. International Journal of Community Based Nursing and Midwifery, 10(2). https://doi.org/10.30476/IJCBNM.2021.90884.1739
Salmanizadeh, F., Ameri, A., & Bahaadinbeigy, K. (2022). Methods of reimbursement for telemedicine services: A scoping review. Medical Journal of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 36(68). https://doi.org/10.47176/mjiri.36.68
