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Background Heart failure nurse specialists strive to optimize patients outcomes in home-based settings.
Objective To document the activities of home-based heart failure nurse specialists.
Method A modified narrative analysis of clinical notes of home-based heart failure nurse specialists during a 12-month period was used.
Results Data analysis revealed 7 key activities of home-based heart failure nurse specialists: (1) monitoring signs and symptoms and reinforcing patients self-management: identifying trends and appropriate action; (2) organization, liaison, and consultation with other health professionals to deal with changes in clinical status; (3) clarifying and reinforcing patients self-care strategies; (4) assisting patients in their desire to avoid institutionalized care; (5) identifying patients psychosocial issues: dealing with social isolation; (6) providing support: journeying with patients and patients families; and (7) helping patients and patients families deal with death and dying.
Conclusions A major proportion of the activities of home-based heart failure nurse specialists are related to facilitating communication between health professionals and providing information and support to patients and patients families.
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