A Guide for the Nurses in Care Management of Heart Failure

Heart failure is one of the diseases with high mortality and morbidity rate in the world and our country. Health education given to individuals with heart failure by nurses increases the quality of life of individuals. Some factors, such as educational status, experience, knowledge of the nurses who will provide the training and individual characteristics of the patient, affect the quality of the education. In nursing management, nurses need to plan content of education according to the individual characteristics and needs of the patient. The aim of this article is to guide nurses on topics, content and language in the education they will give to patients with heart failure. This education, according to guide that has prepared for the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic heart failure by ESC in 2016, should be included the definition of the disease, signs and symptoms, aetiology, monitoring, self-care, pharmacological treatment, implanted devices, planned surgical interventions, immunization, diet, use of alcohol and smoking, exercise, travel and leisure activities, disorders of sleeping and sexual activity topics. After given health education, according to these topics, patients monitoring, repetition of trainings if necessary, use of written or visual materials will increase patients' compliance. Health education provided by health professionals in the care management of patients with heart failure, prolongs the life duration of the individual, decreases the hospitalization frequency and increases the quality of life.