Geriatric Special Topics: Fluid Overload and Heart Failure Patients at Risk for Hospital Readmission- 5 HRs

Course overview

Target audience: The target audience for this education program is nurses who want to improve their nursing skills in the area of fluid overload in older adults experiencing heart failure. Course overview: Heart failure if the most common cause of hospital admission in the older adult. Research data have shown that patients seek medical aid for symptoms of heart failure but postpone seeking medical assistance 12 hours to 14 days before recognition of these changes as harmful to bodily functioning. The delay causes further deterioration in cardiac status requiring acute hospitalization. This course presents the complex nature and pathophysiology of HF symptoms, with nursing management strategies to reduce hospital readmission rates. LEARNING OBJECTIVES On completion of this course, the learner should be able to: Describe the older adult with heart failure (HF) who is at risk of hospital readmission. Discuss the pathophysiology of HF. Conduct a comprehensive cardiac history. Identify physical findings and symptoms that may be associated with fluid overload in the older adult patient with HF. Describe strategies to reduce fluid overload in the older adult with HF.