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Author Spotlight: Workflow for Integrating POCUS Data into EHR for Managing Heart Failure Patients
Published on: July 12, 2024
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Integrating Palliative Care Into Heart Failure Management.
Rebecca Schuetz Bierle1, Karen M Vuckovic2, Catherine J Ryan3
1Rebecca (Schuetz) Bierle is a nurse practitioner in cardiology, Monument Health Heart and Vascular Institute, Rapid City, South Dakota.
Critical Care Nurse
|June 1, 2021
Summary
Palliative care improves quality of life for heart failure patients by managing complex needs. Critical care nurses are vital in symptom palliation and preparing patients and families for care transitions.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Palliative Medicine
- Nursing
Background:
- Palliative care, defined by WHO, addresses physical, psychosocial, and spiritual suffering to enhance quality of life.
- Heart failure patients with chronic debilitating conditions benefit from interdisciplinary palliative care for complex needs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review palliative care models and the critical care nurse's role in symptom management.
- To examine patient and family preparation for care transitions within the heart failure continuum.
Main Methods:
- Review of palliative care principles and models.
- Integration of palliative care across the heart failure disease continuum.
- Discussion of critical care nursing roles and shared decision-making.
Main Results:
- Palliative care principles should be integrated throughout all phases of heart failure.
- Critical care nurses play a key role in managing heart failure symptoms and improving patient quality of life.
- Shared decision-making is crucial for effective palliative care in heart failure.
Conclusions:
- Palliative care is essential for holistic management of serious illness, including heart failure.
- Critical care nurses are pivotal in providing symptom palliation and supporting patients and families.
- Integrating palliative care throughout the continuum of care improves outcomes for heart failure patients.
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