Course ID: FQUEWU309
Course Name: Care of the Person with Heart Failure
Credits: 1

About the Author:
Kathi Voege-Harvey, FNP, MS, MSN

Ms. Voege-Harvey is a Family Nurse Practitioner. She obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from West Virginia University and her Master's degree in Nursing from Florida Atlantic University. Her clinical practice has been in the area of ICU, CCU, and Open Heart Units. She has taught, lectured, participated in research, and written about the cardiac system, for most of her nursing career.

Course Description:
The focus of this one contact hour home-study continuing education course is the care of the person with heart failure. An overview of the cardiac system is presented, along with a review of the various categories of heart failure. The clinical presentation of a person in heart failure and diagnostic tests are reviewed. Nursing management for persons with heart failure is discussed.

Course Objectives:

Upon completion of this home study continuing education course, the participant will be able to:

• Define heart failure.
• Identify at least 3 potential causes of heart failure.
• Describe the pathophysiological progression of heart failure.
• Differentiate between the categories of heart failure.
• Describe the clinical presentation of patients suffering from chronic and acute heart failure.
• List diagnostic tests utilized to assist with the diagnosis of heart failure.
• List 4 groups of medications prescribed for persons with heart failure and correlating rationale.
• Describe 4 nursing interventions in the management of persons with heart failure.
• Identify 5 topics that should be addressed in the education of persons with heart failure.