Semester

Spring

Date of Graduation

2012

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Type

DNP

College

School of Nursing

Department

Not Listed

Committee Chair

Alvita Nathaniel.

Abstract

Heart failure (HF) is a chronic illness that affects approximately 550,000 Americans each year. By 2037, the prevalence is expected to double. Many symptomatic HF patients have difficulty managing their symptoms and are often readmitted within thirty to sixty days after hospital discharge. Research has shown that symptom management and quality of life can be improved in HF patients by utilizing a nurse-led telephone intervention. With improved symptom management patients not only experience a better quality of life, but, HF hospital admission and readmission rates can be reduced. The objectives of this capstone project were to 1) increase patient awareness about their illness, 2) improve symptom management, and 3) improve their quality of life by utilizing a nurse-led telephone intervention on a weekly basis for six weeks following a hospitalization for HF within the past six months. Following the intervention patients showed statistically significant improvement in symptom management and awareness of their illness. Although not statistically significant, they also had overall improved quality of life.

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