Signs & Symptoms
This is the most common symptom of left-sided heart failure and often worsens with activity or lying flat.
What is shortness of breath?
This loop diuretic is commonly prescribed to reduce fluid volume in heart failure and requires monitoring for hypokalemia.
What is furosemide?
This lab value is elevated in heart failure due to ventricular stretch and is often used to assess the severity of fluid overload.
What is BNP (B-type natriuretic peptide)?
This daily nursing action helps monitor for fluid retention and worsening heart failure and should be done at the same time every day.
What is obtaining daily weights?
Heart failure patients should be taught to monitor this vital sign regularly at home, especially when taking beta blockers.
What is heart rate?
This symptom of right-sided heart failure is assessed by observing neck vein distention when the patient is at a 45° angle.
What is jugular vein distention?
This class of medication improves survival in heart failure by blocking the RAAS system and reducing afterload, but may cause a dry cough.
What are ACE inhibitors?
This imaging test evaluates ejection fraction and assesses the heart’s pumping ability, making it essential for diagnosing heart failure.
What is an echocardiogram?
This dietary intervention is typically ordered to help reduce fluid retention in heart failure patients.
What is a low-sodium diet?
Heart failure patients should be taught to avoid this common activity right after eating, as it can increase cardiac workload.
What is exercising immediately after meals
This clinical finding, often assessed in the lower extremities, is a hallmark of right-sided heart failure and graded on a 1+ to 4+ scale.
What is pitting edema?
This medication slows heart rate and decreases myocardial oxygen demand but must be used cautiously, especially if the patient's heart rate is under 60 bpm.
What is a beta blocker?
This electrolyte must be closely monitored when a patient is on loop or potassium-sparing diuretics to avoid arrhythmias.
What is potassium?
Before giving furosemide to a heart failure patient, the nurse should assess for this electrolyte imbalance, which can increase the risk of digoxin toxicity.
What is hypokalemia?
Patients with heart failure should be educated to schedule regular follow-up visits with this healthcare provider to monitor disease progression and adjust treatment.
What is a cardiologist?
These two lung sounds may be heard on auscultation during heart failure exacerbation due to fluid buildup.
What are crackles and rhonchi?
This positive inotrope can improve cardiac contractility but requires monitoring for toxicity, especially in patients with low potassium.
What is digoxin?
A chest X-ray in a patient with acute decompensated heart failure may show this specific finding that indicates pulmonary congestion.
What is bilateral infiltrates or pulmonary edema?
This nursing action helps prevent complications like skin breakdown and venous stasis in a patient with severe lower extremity edema.
What is elevating the legs or repositioning regularly?
Patients should be taught to avoid over-the-counter medications like NSAIDs (e.g., ibuprofen) because they can cause this harmful effect related to heart failure.
What is fluid retention or increased blood pressure?
This compensatory skin finding may appear in patients with advanced heart failure due to poor peripheral perfusion and low cardiac output.
What is cool, pale, or mottled skin?
This potassium-sparing diuretic is used in heart failure for its mortality benefit in patients with reduced ejection fraction but can lead to hyperkalemia.
What is spironolactone?
This diagnostic measure, expressed as a percentage, determines how much blood the left ventricle pumps out with each contraction and helps classify systolic vs. diastolic heart failure.
What is ejection fraction?
This critical nursing intervention must be implemented if the patient develops signs of pulmonary edema such as pink frothy sputum and severe dyspnea.
What is initiate oxygen therapy and notify the provider immediately?
To support long-term self-management, nurses should educate heart failure patients about this lifestyle habit that directly affects cardiac workload and sodium retention, yet is often overlooked in discharge teaching.
What is alcohol intake or alcohol moderation?