Course Objectives:
Upon completion of the course, participants will be able to:
• Explain the key features of Chronic Heart Failure (CHF) pathophysiology, including identifying the major risk factors for developing CHF and nursing interventions to minimize or prevent these risk factors
• Know the clinical presentation of CHF patients
• Assess the functional classification of CHF patients
• Identify precipitants of acute decompensated heart failure
• Develop a teaching plan for patients with CHF including a comprehensive review of CHF medications
• Identify patients with acute decompensated heart failure requiring hospital admission
• Develop a sustainable program for managing CHF patients to reduce hospital readmissions
Overview/Description
Heart failure is the leading cause of hospitalization for individuals 65 years and older. In the U.S. alone, nearly 6 million people are affected. Chronic Heart Failure (CHF) Management provides an overview of the heart and its many functions, the different methods to nurse or prevent heart complications, and the realization of the risk factors that come with CHF.
Attendees will…
• Understand the causes and effects of CHF
• Identify signs and symptoms of heart failure
• Tailor nursing management according to functional classification
• Learn strategies to maintain heart function and avoid complications
Content Outline
- Definitions of heart failure
- Acute vs. Chronic
- Left-sided vs. Right-sided
- Preserved ejection fraction vs. Reduced ejection fraction
- Epidemiology
- Risk factors
- What are the biological, behavioral, environmental risk factors for acquiring CHF?
- Clinical presentation of CHF
- What are the signs and symptoms of CHF?
- What are the major and minor criteria for the diagnosis of CHF?
- What are the signs and symptoms of acute decompensated heart failure that warrant admission to an inpatient facility?
- Pathophysiology
- What is the basic physiology of the heart?
- What is the pathophysiology of heart failure patients?
- What are the risks and complications of chronic heart failure?
- Functional classification (New York Heart Association class)
- Management
- Recommended chronic therapy by heart failure stage
- Nursing management of CHF patients
- Comprehensive review of CHF medications
- Non-pharmacological management of CHF patients
- Acute decompensated heart failure nursing management
- Prevention
- Strategies to avoid hospital readmissions and CHF complications
- Prognosis
- Review and Practice
- Q&A