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. |
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.