High-acuity, progressive care, and critical care nurses often provide care for patients with heart failure during an exacerbation of acute disease or at the end of life. Identifying and managing heart failure symptoms is complex and requires early recognition and early intervention. Because symptoms of heart failure are not disease specific, patients may not respond to them appropriately, resulting in treatment delays. This article reviews the complexities and issues surrounding the patient’s ability to recognize heart failure symptoms and the critical care nurse’s role in facilitating early intervention. It outlines the many barriers to symptom recognition and response, including multimorbidities, age, symptom intensity, symptom escalation, and health literacy. The influence of self-care on heart failure management is also described. The critical care nurse plays a crucial role in teaching heart failure patients to identify and respond appropriately to their symptoms, thus promoting early intervention.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
1 April 2020
Heart Failure|
April 01 2020
Navigating Symptom Management in Heart Failure: The Crucial Role of the Critical Care Nurse
Karen M. Vuckovic, PhD, APRN;
Karen M. Vuckovic, PhD, APRN
Karen M. Vuckovic is an advanced practice registered nurse, Division of Cardiology, University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System, and a clinical associate professor, Department of Biobehavioral Health Science, College of Nursing, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.
Search for other works by this author on:
Rebecca (Schuetz) Bierle, MSN, APRN;
Rebecca (Schuetz) Bierle, MSN, APRN
Rebecca (Schuetz) Bierle is a nurse practitioner, Cardiology, Monument Health Heart and Vascular Institute, Rapid City, South Dakota.
Search for other works by this author on:
Catherine J. Ryan, PhD, APRN, CCRN-K
Catherine J. Ryan is a clinical associate professor, Department of Biobehavioral Health Science, College of Nursing, University of Illinois at Chicago.
Corresponding author: Catherine J. Ryan, phd, aprn, ccrn-k, Department of Biobehavioral Health Science, College of Nursing, University of Illinois at Chicago, 845 S Damen Ave (MC 802), Chicago, IL 60612 (email: [email protected]).
Search for other works by this author on:
Crit Care Nurse (2020) 40 (2): 55–63.
Citation
Karen M. Vuckovic, Rebecca (Schuetz) Bierle, Catherine J. Ryan; Navigating Symptom Management in Heart Failure: The Crucial Role of the Critical Care Nurse. Crit Care Nurse 1 April 2020; 40 (2): 55–63. doi: https://doi.org/10.4037/ccn2020685
Download citation file:
Sign in
Don't already have an account? Register
Short-term Access
Purchase short-term access on a pay-per-article or pay-per-issue basis.
$15 72 - hour single article access $30 7 - day full issue access