Abstract/Description/Artist Statement

The purpose of this pilot project was to evaluate the impact of a student nurse–led hypertension management program on blood pressure control and medication adherence among adults with prehypertension and hypertension attending a rural free clinic in Franklin, Virginia. A quasi-experimental, one-group pretest–posttest design within a pilot framework was employed, with convenience sampling used to recruit participants from patients already attending the free clinic. Blood pressure readings were collected during three nonconsecutive weeks prior to and three nonconsecutive weeks following the student nurse-led educational intervention. Mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) decreased from 142 (± 21.91) at pre-intervention to a post-intervention mean SBP 132.7 (± 8.92) (p= 0.4) and there was a shift in post-intervention BP readings categorically away from Critical and towards Normal. Overall, the findings indicate student nurse-led hypertension management programs in rural, underserved communities may contribute to improved participant outcomes with respect to cardiovascular health and hemodynamic improvement.

Presenting Author Name/s

Leslie Okhirkhian

Faculty Advisor/Mentor

Dr. Beth Tremblay

Faculty Advisor/Mentor Email

bmtrembl@odu.edu

Faculty Advisor/Mentor Department

Ellmer School of Nursing

College/School Affiliation

Ellmer School of Nursing

Student Level Group

Undergraduate

Presentation Type

Poster

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Student Nurse-Led Hypertension Management in a Rural Free Clinic: A Pilot Project

The purpose of this pilot project was to evaluate the impact of a student nurse–led hypertension management program on blood pressure control and medication adherence among adults with prehypertension and hypertension attending a rural free clinic in Franklin, Virginia. A quasi-experimental, one-group pretest–posttest design within a pilot framework was employed, with convenience sampling used to recruit participants from patients already attending the free clinic. Blood pressure readings were collected during three nonconsecutive weeks prior to and three nonconsecutive weeks following the student nurse-led educational intervention. Mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) decreased from 142 (± 21.91) at pre-intervention to a post-intervention mean SBP 132.7 (± 8.92) (p= 0.4) and there was a shift in post-intervention BP readings categorically away from Critical and towards Normal. Overall, the findings indicate student nurse-led hypertension management programs in rural, underserved communities may contribute to improved participant outcomes with respect to cardiovascular health and hemodynamic improvement.