Heart Failure: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, Medical Treatment Guidelines, and Nursing Management

Chad Rogers; Nathania Bush

doi:10.1016/j.cnur.2015.07.012

Heart Failure: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, Medical Treatment Guidelines, and Nursing Management

Nurs Clin North Am. 2015 Dec;50(4):787-99. doi: 10.1016/j.cnur.2015.07.012.

Authors

Chad Rogers¹, Nathania Bush²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Nursing, Morehead State University, 316 West Second Street, Morehead, KY 40351, USA. Electronic address: c.rogers@moreheadstate.edu.
² Department of Nursing, Morehead State University, 316 West Second Street, Morehead, KY 40351, USA.

PMID: 26596665
DOI: 10.1016/j.cnur.2015.07.012

Abstract

Heart failure (HF) is a debilitating chronic disease and is expected to increase in upcoming years due to demographic changes. Nurses in all settings have an essential role in supporting patients in managing this disease. This article describes the pathophysiology of HF, diagnosis, medical management, and nursing interventions. It is crucial for nurses to understand the pathophysiology of HF and the importance that nursing actions have on enhancing medical management to alleviate symptoms and to deter the advancement of the pathophysiologic state. Such an understanding can ultimately reduce morbidity and mortality and optimize quality of life in patients with HF.

Keywords: Heart failure; Heart failure nursing; Heart failure pathophysiology; Heart failure therapy; Nursing management of heart failure.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Heart Failure / diagnosis
Heart Failure / nursing
Heart Failure / physiopathology*
Heart Failure / therapy
Humans
Nursing Process*
Practice Guidelines as Topic*
United States