Nursing Assignment:

Respond using two or more of the following approaches:

1. Suggest an additional technology that might also have a positive impact on this population (below).
2. Ask a probing question, substantiated with additional background information, evidence or research.
3. Share an insight from having reviewed your colleagues' responses, synthesizing the information to provide new perspectives.
4. Validate an idea with your own experience and additional research.

Reminder: 1. Please I need only a response to this discussion below by using at least two approaches above.

2. Put citation and at least one reference list using APA format.

3. I need only one page.

Smoking cigarettes in the United States has been identified as the foremost reason for premature death (Goren, Annunziata,Schnoll, & Suaya, 2014). Individuals who smoke are also prone to miss days of work, resulting in a loss of 97 billion dollars annually (Goren et al., 2014). Yearly, smokers attribute to 96 billion dollars in medical expenses (Goren et al., 2014). The healthcare worker who develops an alliance with a patient has the proclivity to assist with smoking cessation even when offering minimal advice (as cited in Ball, Dains, Flynn, Solomon, & Stewart, 2015). The purpose of this post is to address smoking cessation in Sussex County, New Jersey, utilizing technology and the creation of a PowerPoint presentation.

Community-Based Population and Learning Need

New Jersey residents have unfortunately earned fifth place amongst all states for cigarette smoking (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014). Sussex County, New Jersey's smoking rate is 19% (American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, n.d.). The identified learning need for the smoking population and caregivers of Sussex County is a knowledge deficit of available supportive services. During our admission process, we assess each patient for smoking. I am often surprised at the number of people who continue to smoke despite all the associated health risks. When providing education about services to help quit, the patients and their families or friends are typically unaware of what is available to them.

Technology

The mobile application Quit Now! may be a resource that is helpful to the person that is attempting to stop smoking, and it is available from both iTunes and Google Play (Quit Smoking Community, 2016). This resource provides a tracker that informs the user of the number of cigarettes avoided and the amount of time and money saved (iTunes, 2016). Additionally, the application is offered in 44 different languages (iTunes, 2016). Users can connect for support from both health professionals and other people experiencing the same challenges (Quit Smoking Community, 2016). Coping strategies are also provided to aid those that may be experiencing anxiety or cravings (Quit Smoking Community, 2016). I feel this would be a great tool for patients as it allows them to see their progress and provides support 24 hours a day. The encouragement the patient receives from the application could be instrumental in maintaining a smoke-free lifestyle (Goren et al., 2014).

Integrating this resource into the admission process at my institution would help patients that are on the journey to becoming smoke-free. During the admission, I would educate the patient on installing and navigating the application. Ensuring their understanding is paramount, and I would request the patient show me how to navigate the application. The units at my hospital call patients after discharge to assess how they are functioning and their understanding of education received. The phone call could allow for follow-up regarding the application. Utilizing an application could pose a problem if the patient does not have asmartphone, tablet, or the ability to connect to the internet. I could apply for a grant from the hospital foundation to purchase devices for patients that cannot afford them. The other consideration is internet access. Patients could be provided with a list of institutions that offer free Wi-Fi such as the hospital and local libraries.

PowerPoint

Creating a PowerPoint to tackle smoking cessation would involve including important key concepts (Herrman, 2016). I would also use graphics, and limit the number of slides (Herrman, 2016). The slides would consist of the title of the program, Who Should Be Here, Are You Ready, Why Quit, What to Expect, Available Resources, Practice Makes Perfect, Thank You and Questions, and References. The title and Who Should Be Here slides inform the learners about the program. I have taught classes, and after reviewing these pieces, people have excused themselves and reported they were in the wrong place. The next slide, Are You Ready, is addressed through a YouTube video to engage the learners and encourage discussion regarding their choice to become smoke-free. The Why Quit slide will reinforce what potential benefits a smoker can achieve by quitting. The slide, What to Expect is important; the learners will be able to understand and plan for what they may experience during smoking cessation. Available Resources will apprise the group of the support services that exist to attain success. The Practice Makes Perfect slide is there to allow the learners to practice downloading and navigating applications. The Reference slide is the credible references utilized to support the content taught.

Conclusion

Technology is a resource that has the propensity to assist the smokers of Sussex County to stop smoking. However, the user must have a device and access to the internet. I believe that this is a viable option to support my community; however, it would require funding for implementation.

References

American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network. (n.d.). Percent of adults who are current smokers by county, New Jersey, 2004-2010. Retrieved from https://www.acscan.org/ovc_images/file/action/states/nj/Smoke_Percent_NJ_7-12-12.pdf

Ball, J. W., Dains, J. E., Flynn, J. A., Solomon, B. S., & Stewart, R. W. (2015). Seidel's guide to physical examination (8th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier Mosby.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2014). State highlights. Retrieved fromhttp://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/state_data/state_highlights/2012/states/new_jersey/index.htm

Goren, A., Annunziata, K., Schnoll, R. A., & Suaya, J. A. (2014). Smoking cessation and attempted cessation among adults in the United States. PLoS One, 9(3), 1-12. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0093014

Herman, J. W. (2016). Creative teaching strategies for the nurse educator (2nd ed.). Philadelphia, PA: F. A. Davis Company.

iTunes. (2016). Quit smoking-quit now. Retrieved from https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/quit-smoking-quitnow!/id483994930?mt=8

Quit Smoking Community. (2016). The 6 best quit smoking apps. Retrieved from https://quitsmokingcommunity.org/the-6-best-quit-smoking-apps/