Heart Failure Nursing Fact Sheet

Definition of Heart Failure Nursing

Heart failure nursing is the provision of holistic care to the specific individual with Stage A through D Heart failure due to any etiology. Heart failure nursing care can take place in any inpatient or outpatient setting and address the acute or chronic needs of patients and their support systems/ Prevention can be viewed in relation to individuals, high risk families, the community and population.

Who is a Heart Failure Nurse

Since heart failure (HF) is the final common pathway for all cardiovascular diseases, HF nurses can in essence be found anywhere patients with cardiovascular diseases receive treatment, including hospitals, clinics, research, home health, and extended care facilities.

The settings are important to recognize, since patients with cardiovascular diseases are at high risk for developing HF. Nurses play key roles in managing patient’s risk factors for Heart Failure and with improving patient’s quality of care. Heart Failure nurses are everywhere.

What Do Nurses in Heart Failure Programs Do

Heart Failure nurses and nurse researchers serve as the front line providers who are responsible for monitoring patients, managing their symptoms providing education and counseling, developing new approaches to decreasing hospital readmissions, morbidities, and improving the quality of life for individuals with Heart Failure. Each nurses’ scope of practice is dependent upon their educational level, role, and state of practice, but they typically educate patients on the etiology of HF, medications used to manage and treat its symptoms, and lifestyle modifications, such as sodium dietary restrictions or physical activity. In some settings, registered nurses may also titrate medications, triage patient calls, or coordinate subspecialty referrals.

Advanced Practice Nurses in Heart Failure Programs

Advanced Practice Nurses (APNs) in HF Programs are more involved with the plan of care for the patient with HF patients by:

• Prescribing and titrating medications for HF treatment and symptom management
• Screening and referring for sleep studies
• Ordering and interpreting lab tests
• Screening and referring implanted cardiac device implants
• Diagnosing and treating co-morbidities such as diabetes, lipid disorders or depression
• Referring to other professional subspecialties, such as endocrinology or pulmonary medicine
• Prescribing and coordinating home health care, palliative care, or hospice
• Referring patients who might qualify to more advanced therapies such as heart transplant or mechanical support devices.
• Ongoing communication with the patient’s primary care provider
• Using technology for remote monitoring of HF disease status