Heart failure is, without a doubt, one of the more complex topics that you will encounter in primary care. Two types, four stages, four classes, evolving guidelines for treatment, and a host of medications – it’s a lot to wrap your head around. Especially in a 15minute visit.

Let’s talk about the core concepts of heart failure and increase your confidence. We’ll cover:

✅ The two types of heart failure, and how the different types impact the approach to treatment
✅ Diagnostics – which labs, which tests, and the crucial role of ejection fraction in heart failure
✅ The questions you don’t want to forget to ask the patient
✅ Medications used to treat heart failure
✅ What to look for in the chart BEFORE the first visit

Like so many other things with primary care, managing heart failure gets less stressful with time. But until then, having a strategy will increase your efficiency in the visit, your confidence on the subject, and give you clarity about comanaging with cardiology.

Heart Failure Guidelines 2022: https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/epdf/...

If you liked this post, also check out:
Resistant Hypertension Part 1: https://www.realworldnp.com/blog/medi...
Resistant Hypertension for Nurse Practitioners Part 2: https://www.realworldnp.com/blog/resi...
Medical Decision Making and Referral for New Nurse Practitioners: https://www.realworldnp.com/blog/medi...

Video Breakdown:

00:00 Introduction
01:40 Background Information
03:55 Two Broad Types of Heart Failure
05:15 Stages and Classes
08:40 Goals of Care for Heart Failure
09:08 Assessment
11:03 Assessment Questions
15:00 Management Pieces
20:18 Referral and CoManagement with Cardiology

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Please note: This video is intended only for medical providers and students learning to be medical providers.

While anyone is welcome to view, for legal and safety reasons, we are unable to diagnose, treat, or answer medical questions for individuals through this channel. We always refer individuals back to their primary care providers for medical care.

If you’re a medical provider or student and have specific patient cases you have questions about, I cannot answer those here but would love to help you inside our mentorship program! Join the waitlist at https://www.realworldnp.com/mentoring.
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