Course Summary

When heart failure occurs, the heart no longer provides adequate oxygen and nutrients to the bodily organs and tissues. Heart failure is a chronic, debilitating, progressive and deadly disease that has an impact on the patient, as well as the patient’s family members and health care team. The goal of palliative care is to improve the quality of life for patients with an incurable advanced disease, as well as to help family members cope with the issues and emotions that arise when a family member is seriously ill. Palliative care is an interdisciplinary approach that assists with system management, self-help, pain control, psychological and spiritual support. The end goal of palliative care is to provide the patient with the best possible quality of life for as long as possible.

Course Format

Homestudy

Course Syllabus

  • Introduction
  • Palliative Care for Heart Failure Patients
    • Motivational Interviewing
    • Lifestyle Changes
  • Heart Failure Symptom Management
    • Pain Management
    • Treating Depression and Anxiety
    • Managing Dyspnea
    • Sleep Disturbance
    • Managing Fatigue
    • Nausea and Weight Loss
    • Feelings of Hopelessness and Fear
  • Heart Failure Treatments in Palliative Care
    • Implantable Cardiac Devices
    • Heart Transplantation
  • Hospice Care
    • Heart Failure Clinics and Future Models of Care
    • Heart Failure Clinics
    • Remote Monitoring
  • Case Study: Heart Failure
  • Summary

Author

Heidi Blossom, BAN, MSN