The vital role nurse leaders play in managing chronic conditions

Nurse leaders play a wide range of roles, from shaping healthcare services to delivering high-quality patient care for patients with complex requirements.

Below, we review how nurse leaders help provide and manage care for patients living with one or more chronic conditions. If you’re a practicing nurse and are considering a career pathway in this specialty, then the information will be of interest to you.

You’ll also find out how you can earn a qualification that enhances your competencies and paves the way to an advanced role, such as managing care for patients with chronic conditions — read on to learn more.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), six out of 10 adults in the United States are living with a chronic illness, while four out of 10 have two or more. Some of the most prevalent chronic illnesses include cancer, heart disease, stroke, chronic lung disease, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease.

This situation can represent a challenge for healthcare providers and requires a high level of knowledge and awareness so that each patient’s unique needs are met. It’s clear that with their high level of experience and education, nurse leaders have an essential role to play in the care of patients living with chronic conditions.

Nurse leaders assist patients living with these conditions in a variety of ways, through hands-on care and also through their leadership. Here are some of the ways that nurse leaders provide help to those suffering from chronic conditions:

Holistic patient-centered care is about treating the patient as an individual with unique needs to enhance their overall health status. This approach is particularly relevant for patients with chronic conditions that can impact many aspects of their everyday lives.

Senior nurses may offer holistic care to these patients by helping them understand and manage their conditions and empowering them to make positive lifestyle changes. In addition, they will have an awareness of patients’ unique social and cultural circumstances, enabling them to deliver tailored care.

An integral part of the role of senior nurses is to educate patients about their own health needs and how to manage their chronic condition. This can be achieved by devising patient education programs for use by their team members or by offering advice directly to patients.

Nurse leaders often provide an individualized approach to patient education, taking into account different learning styles and varying cultural needs.

Nurse leaders frequently call on professionals from other disciplines to ensure that patients living with chronic conditions receive the best possible care to address every aspect of their health. This means that they must communicate effectively with professionals from other disciplines to ensure that patients receive the care they need.

As part of this process, they will advocate for their patients with a clear vision of successful health outcomes.

Senior nurses are responsible for patient care coordination and case management and work to ensure that care for patients with chronic conditions is managed seamlessly. They achieve this by employing excellent communication to make certain that all parties involved in a patient’s care are aware of their responsibilities.

Nurse leaders will also have a bird’s eye view of healthcare systems, so they will be aware of the services that are available to their patients and how to access them.

The complexity of chronic conditions means that a comprehensive treatment plan is essential to achieving a positive outcome.

A treatment plan will include goals for the patient to work towards. Encouraging patients to stick to these objectives is an essential part of a senior nurse’s role. This requires a variety of skills, including educating patients on the likely outcomes if they do or don’t follow their treatment plan and communicating this information in an accessible and constructive way.

A skilled and experienced nurse understands that chronic conditions need regular monitoring and assessment. This helps them understand the progression of their patient’s condition and adjust treatment plans as necessary.

Monitoring and assessment may be carried out through face-to-face appointments, or nurses may support patients in monitoring their health condition at home. This could be achieved by educating them on the use of equipment such as blood glucose monitors for diabetes or wearable devices that offer a range of health data.

We’ve seen how chronic diseases affect a significant proportion of the population. This means that highly qualified professionals, such as nurse leaders, are needed now more than ever to help shape healthcare to respond to this need.

If one of your career goals is to ensure that patients with multiple conditions receive the quality care they deserve, know that a nurse leadership position could help you achieve this.

You can prepare for a leadership role by enrolling in an advanced program of study, like a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree, at a reputable institution such as Baylor University. This type of program will help you develop the in-depth knowledge and leadership skills you need to help drive positive change. If you’re wondering how to continue working full-time while studying, then you should consider an online program developed for working nurses, such as Baylor University’s online DNP in Executive Nurse Leadership.

With 100% online coursework and no campus visit required, this program allows you to complete your doctoral project in your locality, making it even more convenient. You will receive in-depth instruction on leadership and transformative healthcare systems to prepare you to take on a senior role.

In this way, you can help contribute to shaping a healthcare system of the future that is responsive to the needs of all patients, including those with chronic conditions.

One of the most satisfying areas of patient care is looking after individuals with chronic conditions. By delivering the best hands-on care or working in roles that help drive innovative change, nurse leaders can make a real difference in these patients’ lives.