CHF

[2bnurse15]

hi just wondering what the role of a specialist nurse in the primary care setting supporting clients living with CHFwould do??

[9livesRN, BSN, RN]

lol that sounds like a home work question!

[2bnurse15]

anyone got anything on nurse specialist relating to chronic heart failure

[rachelgeorgina]

Education. Education. Education.

1. Help the pt to manage their fluid and salt restriction (information and education regarding minimizing salt intake and restricting fluid intake to aprox 1200mL daily.) Encourage the pt to weigh themselves daily in order to track fluid balance to anticipate and treat overload early.

2. Help the patient to recognise the signs and symptoms of fluid overload and how to treat these early so as to prevent an acute episode of pulmonary oedema. Teach the patient what to do in the event of overload.

3. Education and assistance regarding medication regime. (E.g. "This little white tablet is your Lasix, your fluid tablet. You need to take one of these each day. Try to take them in the morning so you don't have to get up several times during the night to go to the loo." OR teaching the patient how to take their pulse before they swallow their digoxin and know not to take if their pulse is below 60bpm ---> what to do.)

4. Regular checks of vital signs and other basic things - e.g. pulse, BP, signs of oedema, SOB etc. Teach pt how to do this for themselves and what to do when readings are outside normal ranges.

5. Liaise with GP regarding medication management (e.g. consult for increase in Lasix for signs of oedema etc) and other health professionals involved in pt's care (e.g. the physio - how best to manage pt's SOB on exertion due to overload.)

I'm sure there is more but this is what I've seen in community practice...