Assignment: What strategies might be deployed to better prevent heart failure? What can we (Nurse Practitioners) do to better engage patients in the overall management of heart failure to improve outcomes?

Heart failure occurs when the heart fails to pump blood sufficiently, leading to fluid build-up in the lungs and heart, causing edema. The symptoms of heart failure include shortness of breath, chest/jaw pain, and the skin turning blue. The prevalence of heart failure affects over 6.2 million adults in the United States, with a mortality rate of 13.4%.

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Strategies for prevention

The primary risk factor for heart failure is hypertension, which is caused by lifestyle choices and behaviors. Hence prevention of heart failure involves lifestyle management in two major areas: diet and physical activity. Diet management is necessary to ensure the intake of heart-friendly foods. For example, intake of fruits, vegetables, white meat, nuts, grains, and monosaturated fats are associated with a healthy heart (Smigorowsky et al., 2020). Similarly, avoiding saturated fats and high sodium-rich foods is also good for the heart. Physical activity in the form of 30 mins aerobic activity at least five days a week. Exercise helps in losing weight, eliminating fat that causes cholesterol deposits, and proper blood circulation, all beneficial for a healthy heart. Finally, avoiding caffeinated drinks, smoking, too much alcohol, hard drugs, and high sugar processed drinks also helps prevent the events leading to heart failure.

The role of Nurse Practitioners

The first strategy to engage patients in effective management of heart failure is to conduct health promotion education. This education is directed toward equipping the patient with the skills and knowledge for proper self-management (Woo et al., 2018). Health promotion also motivates the patient to adopt health-promoting lifestyles and behavior and abandon activities that contribute to poor health.

Patient-centered model is the second strategy that NP can use for patient engagement. The patient-centered model encourages provider-patient collaboration, ensuring the patient’s active participation in health-promoting behaviors leading to positive health outcomes (Ordóñez‐Piedra et al., 2021). The patient-centered approach also ensures that the patients’ culture and psychosocial issues that might impact adherence to treatment and effective self-care are evaluated and addressed, supporting their full engagement in managing the chronic condition.

References

Ordóñez‐Piedra, J., Ponce‐Blandón, J., Robles‐Romero, J., Gómez‐Salgado, J., Jiménez‐Picón, N., & Romero‐Martín , M. (2021). Effectiveness of the Advanced Practice Nursing interventions in the patient with heart failure: A systematic review. Nurs Open, 8(4), 1879–1891. https://doi.10.1002/nop2.847.

Smigorowsky, M., Sebastianski, M., McMurtry, M., Tsuyuki, R., & Norris, C. (2020). Outcomes of nurse practitioner-led care in patients with cardiovascular disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Adv Nurs. , 76(1), 81-95. https://doi.10.1111/jan.14229.

Woo, B., Lee, J., & Tam, W. (2018). The impact of the advanced practice nursing role on quality of care, clinical outcomes, patient satisfaction, and cost in the emergency and critical care settings: a systematic review. Hum Resour Health, 15, 63.

Discussion questions on heart failure (HF):
Introduce a brief overview of HF before answering the following questions
1- What strategies might be deployed to better prevent heart failure?
2- What can we (Nurse Practitioners) do to better engage patients in the overall management of heart failure to improve outcomes?