Congestive heart failure is a cardiac disorder that affects pumping of blood and supply of oxygen in the body. Health complications usually affect the elasticity of cardiac muscles and increase demand of oxygen in the body. According to Quaglietti (2000), although ventricular systolic dysfunction causes about 80% of the congestive heart failure cases, disorders associated with endocardium, myocardium, and pericardium sites contribute to the occurrence of congestive heart failure. In the case study, Mr. P is suffering from congestive heart failure due to cardiomyopathy, which has made him have difficulties in breathing, experience moist crackles in the lungs, and suffer from 4+ pitting edema. Basing on his medical conditions and family background, this essay describes appropriate care, recommends treatment plan, and explains the essential education method and teaching plan for the patient and family.
Mr. P requires comprehensive care that will enable him to manage signs and symptoms of congestive heart failure and other complications of cardiomyopathy. Cardiac rehabilitation is one of the effective cares that patients with congestive heart failure require so that they can manage their conditions well. According to the World Health Organization, cardiac rehabilitation comprises “the total activities needed to ensure the best physical, mental, and social conditions that enable patients to return to their place in the community in order to conduct productive lives” (Eshah, & Bond, 2009, p. 132). Hence, Mr. requires physical exercise to alleviate his breathing difficulties, education for him to understand his condition and essential management strategies such as chemotherapy, modification of diet, and counseling for him to cope with social conditions in his family.
Home treatment plan is critical for the treatment and management of congestive heart failure, which is experienced by Mr. P. Quaglietti (2000) asserts that, “counseling and education involving dietary modifications, activity, recommendations, medication management, self-monitoring, prognosis, coping skills, social support, caregiver stress, and spiritual needs are critical components in the management of heart failure” (p. 259). Counseling encourages Mr. P to gain a positive attitude about his condition because his family is unable to provide essential social support. Moreover, counseling enables his wife to gain hope about his recovery given that she has lost hope, thus provides essential social support to his husband. Likewise, education enables Mr. P and his wife to understand congestive heart failure, therefore, adhere to dietary modifications, drug dosage, and physiotherapy. Thus, home treatment plan will enable Mr. P and his wife to manage congestive heart failure appropriately.
One-to-one method of teaching provides an opportunity for nurses to interact with Mr. P and his family. Moreover, it is easy to provide a comprehensive education, which Mr. P needs so that he can gain comprehensive knowledge about strategies that are applicable in the treatment and management of congestive heart failure. According to Redman (2007), “patients with congestive heart failure do not only need a structured program of education, but also regular follow up, in part because they must manage a complex treatment plan involving multiple medications and rigorous self-care practices” (p. 92). Hence, comprehensive education is central to the treatment and management of the congestive heart failure in the case of Mr. P.
Teaching is an integral part of nursing since patients require information about their health statuses, how to treat their conditions, and manage their lives so that they can improve the quality of living. Therefore, nurses should prepare a teaching plan that comprises eight basic elements, namely, the purpose, goal, objectives, instructional method, teaching period, instructional resources, and method of evaluation (Bastable, 2008). In this case, the purpose of the teaching plan is to provide information regarding strategies of managing his condition and overall goal is to enable Mr. P manage congestive heart failure and cardiomyopathy. The objectives of teaching include following dietary requirements, adhering to medications, gaining social support, and performing relevant physical exercises. Use of charts and demonstrations is relevant instructional method, while adherence to chemotherapy, exercise, and dietary requirements evaluate the progress of Mr. P in learning the management of his condition.
References
Bastable, S. (2008). Nurse as educator: Principles of teaching and learning for nursing practice. New York: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Eshah, N., & Bond, E. (2009). Cardiac rehabilitation program for coronary heart disease patients: An integrative literature review. International Journal of Nursing Practice, 15(3), 131-139.
Quaglietti, S. (2000). Management of the patient with congestive heart failure using outpatient, home, and palliative care. Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases, 43(3), 259-274.
Redman, B. (2007). The practice of patient education: A case study approach. London: Elsevier Health Sciences.