Affiliations

Aurora St. Luke’s Medical Center

Presentation Notes

Quality Improvement poster presentation at Empowering Nursing Excellence: Recognizing the Value and Impact of Nurses, Advocate Health Midwest Region Nursing Research & Professional Development Conference 2023; November 15, 2023; virtual.

Abstract

Background: HF patients need specialized acute care to aid in managing their chronic syndrome and meet hospital targets.

Local Problem: Heart failure patients observed/expected length of stay at a quaternary medical in Quarter 1 2022 was 1.26. Fall outs related to heart failure education documentation occurred for 26 patients at the time of discharge through the end of May 2022.

Method: PDSA method was utilized as the approach to implement a heart failure specialized unit. An interdisciplinary team reviewed admission data, bed capacity, and patient populations served. Based on organization priorities, leadership, and unit culture a medical/cardiac floor was designated as the heart failure unit on January 9, 2023. Baseline knowledge of staff was assessed with permission to utilize the Nurses Knowledge of Heart Failure survey. Results from this instrument highlighted areas of opportunity for specialized heart failure education targeted for their role that included: signs and symptoms of a heart failure exacerbation, dietary recommendations and restrictions, and activity recommendations. All staff were provided with specialized heart failure education targeted for their role.

Results/Conclusions: Following quarter one data in 2023 the observed/expected length of stay decreased to 1.16. A comparison of heart failure documentation fall outs showed from January – May 2022 there were 26 fall outs, and this decreased to eleven in 2023. A six month follow up of Nurses Knowledge of Heart Failure Education Principles survey showed improvement in knowledge regarding dietary and activity recommendations.

Implications for Practice: Implementation of a designated heart failure unit with targeted education for staff can improve patient outcomes. More opportunities exist to expand these efforts and provide individualized care for heart failure patients.

Document Type

Poster

Publication Date

11-15-2023


 

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Nov 15th, 12:00 AM

Cohorting of heart failure patients with targeted nursing staff education to improve patient outcomes

Background: HF patients need specialized acute care to aid in managing their chronic syndrome and meet hospital targets.

Local Problem: Heart failure patients observed/expected length of stay at a quaternary medical in Quarter 1 2022 was 1.26. Fall outs related to heart failure education documentation occurred for 26 patients at the time of discharge through the end of May 2022.

Method: PDSA method was utilized as the approach to implement a heart failure specialized unit. An interdisciplinary team reviewed admission data, bed capacity, and patient populations served. Based on organization priorities, leadership, and unit culture a medical/cardiac floor was designated as the heart failure unit on January 9, 2023. Baseline knowledge of staff was assessed with permission to utilize the Nurses Knowledge of Heart Failure survey. Results from this instrument highlighted areas of opportunity for specialized heart failure education targeted for their role that included: signs and symptoms of a heart failure exacerbation, dietary recommendations and restrictions, and activity recommendations. All staff were provided with specialized heart failure education targeted for their role.

Results/Conclusions: Following quarter one data in 2023 the observed/expected length of stay decreased to 1.16. A comparison of heart failure documentation fall outs showed from January – May 2022 there were 26 fall outs, and this decreased to eleven in 2023. A six month follow up of Nurses Knowledge of Heart Failure Education Principles survey showed improvement in knowledge regarding dietary and activity recommendations.

Implications for Practice: Implementation of a designated heart failure unit with targeted education for staff can improve patient outcomes. More opportunities exist to expand these efforts and provide individualized care for heart failure patients.

 

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