Heart failure
Structured condition card with NCLEX priority cues and nursing action focus.
Cardiachigh priorityneeds review
Heart failure
Etiology / Pathophysiology
- Pump dysfunction after hypertension, MI, valve disease, cardiomyopathy, or other cardiac stress.
- Reduced forward flow and/or fluid backup cause congestion and poor perfusion.
Medications
| Class | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Diuretics | Reduces fluid overload. |
| ACE inhibitors / ARBs | Reduces workload and remodeling in selected clients. |
| Beta blockers | Supports long-term cardiac function for selected clients. |
Signs / symptoms
- Exertional dyspnea that may progress to dyspnea at rest.
- Orthopnea or waking at night short of breath.
- Cough or pulmonary crackles.
- Fatigue, weakness, sleepiness, or confusion.
- Ankle, leg, abdominal, or neck-vein swelling.
- Rapid fluid-related weight gain.
- Nocturia.
- Nausea, poor appetite, or abdominal discomfort.
Nursing actions
- Monitor daily weight, edema, lung sounds, oxygenation, and intake/output.
- Position upright for dyspnea and administer oxygen/diuretics as ordered.
- Teach weight gain reporting and sodium/fluid instructions.
Complications
- Pulmonary edema
- Kidney injury
- Dysrhythmias
- Cardiogenic shock
NCLEX cues
- Crackles, S3, edema, sudden weight gain.
- Pink frothy sputum is emergency pulmonary edema.
Memory hooks
- Left backs into lungs; right backs into body.
Labs / Diagnostics
- BNP
- Chest x-ray
- Echocardiogram
- Electrolytes and kidney function
Review notes
- Session-derived study seed. Verify against school materials, ATI/NCLEX review sources, current orders, and facility policy before relying on details.
Cross references
Related cards are generated from the shared study map, not hand-built per page.
Source entitycondition card
Heart failure
Condition card for Heart failure: recognize the testable cue, prevent the complication, and choose the safest first nursing action.
Termcondition cue
CHF
Heart pump problem that can cause fluid overload and poor perfusion.
Med classmedication safety
ACE inhibitors / ARBs
Reduces angiotensin effect so vessels relax and aldosterone-driven sodium and water retention decreases.
Med classmedication safety
Beta blockers
Blocks beta stimulation so heart rate, contractility, and blood pressure can decrease.
Med classmedication safety
Diuretics
Moves fluid out through the kidneys; the exact electrolyte effect depends on the class.
Sources and evidence
- https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/heart-failure/symptomsSigns / symptoms