Abstract
PURPOSE
To examine the prevalence of nursing diagnoses among hospitalized patients with congestive heart failure (CHF).
METHODS
Patients in the cardiology unit with a diagnosis of CHF types I–IV (N= 26) were surveyed using an investigator-developed data collection tool to determine the nursing diagnoses common to this patient population.
FINDINGS
Activity intolerance was present in 100% of patients regardless of severity of CHF. Fluid volume excess was present in 79% of patients with types I and II, and in 92% with types II and IV. Sleep pattern disturbance occurred in 80% with types I and II, and in 90% with types II and IV.
CONCLUSIONS
CHF is considered a syndrome having several signs and symptoms, which evidences the need for language standardization and systematic nursing assistance.
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