The Congestive Heart Failure Nurse Development Project

Abstract

One of the leading diagnoses for hospital 30-day readmissions is congestive heart failure. Closing gaps in nurses’ knowledge and comfort level in congestive heart failure management principles can potentially contribute to improved patient knowledge and management in self-care of congestive heart failure, reduced congestive heart failure exacerbations, and reduced 30-day hospital readmission rate. The Congestive Heart Failure Nurse Development Project (CHFNDP) is a quasi-experimental project designed to improve non-cardiac nurses’ knowledge and comfort levels in congestive heart failure management. The project occurred at an acute care academic medical center located in the Midwest. A convenience sample of 67 registered nurses from two medicine-nursing divisions were recruited to participate in a pre- and post-knowledge survey and comfort survey, view an online educational video presentation, and attend one live educational session on congestive heart failure management principles. Ten nurses completed the project. Outcomes of knowledge and comfort level were analyzed using the Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test. Overall pre-to post-nurses’ knowledge mean scores remained the same (Z= -.522, p =.602), however pre-to post nurses’ comfort mean scores improved (Z= -5.223, p< .001). In future studies, more educational opportunities can be provided to increase participants’ memory and knowledge on congestive heart failure management principles to foster quality patient care.