Activities of home-based heart failure nurse specialists: a modified narrative analysis.
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.


METHODS
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.
Davidson
Patricia
P
University of Western Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
Paull
Glenn
G
Rees
David
D
Daly
John
J
Cockburn
Jill
J
D001315:Australia; D003152:Community Health Nursing; D017050:Episode of Care; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000451:nursing*; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D033262:Narration; D009737:Nursing Records; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D012648:Self Care; D012934:Social Isolation / Q000523:psychology; D013727:Terminal Care