Cardiovascular Disorders - Heart Failure (HF)

Cardiovascular Disorders – Heart failure (HF)

Heart failure (HF) is a complex clinical syndrome characterized by the heart’s inability to pump blood efficiently to meet the body’s metabolic demands. The pathophysiology of HF comprises reduced contractility of the myocardium, increased pre-load and after-load, and activation of a neurohormonal system that consequently results in edema, low cardiac output, and organ failure. Symptomatic manifestations of HF include dyspnoea, fatigue, peripheral edema, and orthopnoea, which are associated with pulmonary and systemic congestion. According to Hajouli and Ludhwani (2024), diagnosis is made based on the clinical history and physical examination, elevated B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels, and echocardiogram to assess ejection fraction and structural changes. The options for treatment include medications, which include ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers, and diuretics and non-pharmacologic treatments, which include diet, limitation of fluids, alcohol restriction, exercise, and weight management to enhance heart function and reduce the manifestations of symptoms (Schwinger, 2021).

Nurse practitioners (NPs) play a crucial role in ensuring that evidence-based practice (EBP) systematically guides decision-making when managing cardiovascular conditions. This entails the concern with the utilization of new research, clinical practice, and patient preference. Implementing clinical protocols, diagnosing diseases, performing evidence-based evaluation of the literature, and using evidence-based assessment tools will help improve the ability to diagnose diseases and select the most effective treatments. Integration of multidisciplinary teams will enhance the care of patients as they address diverse aspects that embrace best practices. Thus, with the use of EBP, NPs enhance patients’ knowledge, improve dosage schedules that the patients undergo, and ensure compliance with the set treatment plans (Brunt & Morris, 2023).

The American College of Cardiology (ACC)/American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines provide a structured approach to HF management by outlining classification, staging, and recommended interventions. These guidelines are focused on pharmacological approaches, lifestyle changes, and client-centered approaches that may slow down the disease progression. Adhering to these guidelines as an NP means that the right treatment options will be chosen while considering the disease severity and possible complications that may arise. Comprehensive use of guideline-directed medical therapy contributes to the formulation of knowledgeable decisions and the enhancement of patient care, thus reducing hospitalizations (Heidenreich et al., 2022).

References

Brunt, B. A., & Morris, M. M. (2023, March 4). Nursing professional development evidence-based practice. National Library of Medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK589676/

Hajouli, S., & Ludhwani, D. (2024, May 5). Heart failure and ejection fraction. National Library of Medicine; StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK553115/

Heidenreich, P. A., Bozkurt, B., Aguilar, D., Allen, L. A., Byun, J. J., Colvin, M. M., Deswal, A., Drazner, M. H., Dunlay, S. M., Evers, L. R., Fang, J. C., Fedson, S. E., Fonarow, G. C., Hayek, S. S., Hernandez, A. F., Khazanie, P., Kittleson, M. M., Lee, C. S., Link, M. S., . . . Yancy, C. W. (2022). 2022 AHA/ACC/HFSA guideline for the management of heart failure: A report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Joint Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines. Circulation, 145(18). https://doi.org/10.1161/cir.0000000000001063

Schwinger, R. H. G. (2021). Pathophysiology of heart failure. Cardiovascular Diagnosis and Therapy, 11(1), 263–276. https://doi.org/10.21037/cdt-20-302

ORDER A PLAGIARISM-FREE PAPER HERE

We’ll write everything from scratch

Question