HEART FAILURE AND THE NEED FOR BETTER PATIENT EDUCATION

Heart failure is becoming a more prevalent condition, evidenced by the fact that 25% of patients who are diagnosed with heart failure are readmitted within 30 days of being discharged due to exacerbation of this disease process. Heart failure symptoms can worsen due to inadequate patient education and other issues with patient self-management of the disease process leading to readmissions and increased hospital stays—adding to an already burdened healthcare system. The aim of this project was to address the gap in nurse led patient education early on during hospitalization of patients admitted with a new diagnosis of heart failure or those admitted for exacerbation of the disease in hopes of improving heart failure self-management and reducing the 30-day readmission rates. An educational intervention was implemented among 25 registered nurses on a cardiology unit in a midwestern hospital. Pre- and post-tests, a comprehensive instructional voiceover PowerPoint, and a toolkit for bedside education of the patient diagnosed with heart failure was utilized in the educational intervention. Results indicated significant improvements in the nurses’ knowledge of heart failure management, patient education strategies, and the importance of early patient education during hospitalization. These findings emphasize the possibility of nursing education initiatives to enhance patient outcomes, reduce 30-day rehospitalization rates, and lessen healthcare burdens associated with heart failure.