Nursing assessment in cardiovascular rehabilitation: manifestations of the subject dimension

Nursing assessment is an important step in the nursing process within the context of cardiovascular rehabilitation. The use of measurement instruments to support this activity, such as the Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Measurement Scale, is essential to ensure that interventions are aligned with the patient’s actual needs, considering all dimensions involved in the phenomenon. Therefore, this study aimed to describe the manifestations of the subject dimension that are indicative of cardiovascular rehabilitation (CR), in the context of clinical nursing care assessment. This is an integrative review, conducted between April and September 2022, guided by the following research question: “What are the essential elements/indicators of CR in the context of clinical care?” Data collection was carried out in five databases, resulting in a final sample of 30 studies. The indicators of the subject dimension were organized into the subdimensions of physical conditioning, psycho-emotional situations, and health behaviors, referring to the set of aspects manifested by the individual themselves that are indicative of the effectiveness — or lack thereof — of their rehabilitation process. By clarifying this dimension, it becomes possible to conduct an appropriate evaluation of nursing care in CR programs or processes, considering biological, psycho-emotional, and behavioral factors.