Overview
Introduction
Heart failure (HF) is a clinical syndrome in which the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body's metabolic needs, or can do so only at abnormally high filling pressures.
NCLEX-RN
NCLEX-RN
Heart failure (HF) is a clinical syndrome in which the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body's metabolic needs, or can do so only at abnormally high filling pressures. It does not mean the heart has stopped. It means the heart is working inefficiently, so fluid backs up, activity tolerance falls and the client is at risk of sudden decompensation. The Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) and Canadian Heart Failure Society classify HF by left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF): HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) is LVEF 40% or less, and HF with nonreduced ejection fraction (HFnrEF) is LVEF above 40%. HFnrEF consolidates two previous terms, HF with mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFmrEF, LVEF 41–49%) and HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF, LVEF 50% or more), which you may still see in older documents. The classification matters because the drug combination differs: four standard drug categories are recommended in HFrEF, while HFnrEF therapy centres on an SGLT2 inhibitor and an MRA, with decongestion, blood pressure control and treatment of the underlying cause. The registered nurse (RN) role is to...
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