Summary Nursing Care of Patients with Cardiac Disorders (STUDY GUIDE)

Nursing Care of Patients with Cardiac Disorders (STUDY GUIDE) LEARNING OUTCOMES 1. Compare and contrast the etiology, pathophysiology, and manifestations of common cardiac disorders, including heart failure, structural disorders, and inflammatory disorders. 2. Explain risk factors and preventive measures for cardiac disorders such as heart failure, inflammatory disorders, and valve disorders. 3. Discuss indications for and management of patients with hemodynamic monitoring. 4. Discuss the effects and nursing implications for medications commonly prescribed for patients with cardiac disorders. 5. Describe nursing care for the patient undergoing cardiac surgery or cardiac transplant. CLINICAL COMPETENCIES 1. Apply knowledge of normal cardiac anatomy and physiology and assessment techniques in caring for patients with car- diac disorders. 2. Assess the functional health status of patients with cardiac disorders, documenting and reporting deviations for ex- pected findings. 3. Based on patient assessment and knowledge of the disorder, determine priority nursing diagnoses. 4. Plan, prioritize, and provide evidence-based, individualized care for patients with cardiac disorders. 5. Safely and knowledgeably administer prescribed medica- tions and treatments to patients with cardiac disorders. 6. Actively participate in planning and coordinating interprofes- sional care for patients with cardiac disorders. 7. Provide appropriate teaching and community-based care for patients with cardiac disorders and their families. 8. Evaluate the effectiveness of nursing care, revising the plan of care as needed to promote, maintain, or restore the func- tional health status of patients with cardiac disorders. MAJOR CHAPTER CONCEPTS • Heart failure, the most common cardiac disorder, is a condi- tion in which the heart is unable to pump effectively to meet the body’s needs for blood and oxygen to the tissues. • Heart failure is due to impaired myocardial contraction or excessive workload. • Goals of heart failure management are to reduce the work- load and improve its function. Medical management includes medication use including ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers, di- uretics, and vasodilators to reduce the cardiac workload. • Nursing care of the patient with heart failure is primarily sup- portive and educative, providing the patient and family with the necessary knowledge and resources to manage this chronic condition. KEY TERMS aortic valve, 950 cardiac tamponade, 947 cardiomyopathy, 959 endocarditis, 941 heart failure, 920 hemodynamics, 926 mean arterial pressure (MAP), 927 mitral valve, 950 murmur, 951 myocarditis, 945 orthopnea, 924 paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea (PND), 924 pericarditis, 946 pulmonary edema, 935 pulmonic valve, 950 regurgitation, 939 rheumatic fever, 939 rheumatic heart disease (RHD), 939 stenosis, 939 tricuspid valve, 950 valvular heart disease, 950 Cardiac disorders affect the structure and/or function of the heart. These disorders interfere with the heart’s primary purpose: to pump enough blood to meet the body’s demand for oxygen and nutrients. Disruptions in cardiac function affect the functioning of