Create a plan that summarises the impact a  contemporary issue has on local nursing practice.  Provide recommendations for change that address the  impact that a contemporary health issue has on local  nursing practice. This plan is based on ethical, socially  inclusive and culturally safe principles to guide practice  improvement using literature to support your strategies.

Introduction 

Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of morbidity across the Australian continent. In total, 19,077 Australians lost their lives in 2016 from cardiovascular complications (Heart Foundation, 2018). The various manifestations of cardiovascular disease, including coronary heart disease, heart failure, congenital heart disease, cardiomyopathy, peripheral vascular disease, and stroke, have a substantial impact on the health and wellness of elderly individuals and predispose them towards a range of clinical complications (AGDOH, 2016). At the same time, a range of complex disease conditions including diabetes, coronary artery disease, and hypertension, continue to have an impact on the treatment, prognosis, and overall cardiovascular health of elderly patients (Zhang, Chen, & Ma, 2018). 

The literature reveals a 1%-2% prevalence of heart failure cases in Australia (Sahle, Owen, Mutowo, Krum, & Reid, 2016). Aboriginal Australians and the elderly experience elevated levels of heart failure because many cardiovascular complications remain undiagnosed and unidentified due to inadequate and inaccessible nursing care services. Peng et al. (2017) identified several modifiable risk factors for ischemic heart disease in middle-aged and elderly Australians, including total cholesterol elevation, increased body mass index, and physical inactivity that have a substantial impact on the health and wellness of the elderly population. 

Nursing professionals need to provide education sessions for elderly cardiac patients to improve their self-sufficiency and coping skills while concomitantly improving the coordination of care across the clinical practice environment (Peterson, Helfand, Humphrey, Christensen, & Carson, 2011). 

The nursing literature advocates the administration of person-centred healthcare interventions for elderly cardiac patients to improve their quality of life and wellness outcomes across the community environment (Kim & Rich, 2016). This professional action plan provides a number of evidence-based strategies and recommendations for senior nursing staff for delivering culturally safe, socially inclusive, and ethically driven healthcare interventions for elderly patients affected with cardiovascular disease in Far North Queensland.   

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