Nursing actions for patients with heart failure: an integrative review

Objective: to identify studies on educational activities for patients with heart failure performed by nurses and evaluate their importance, in order to highlight methods, strategies and new concepts in the area. Method: this is an integrative literature review, with 15 articles selected in the three databases, Lilacs, Medline and Capes Journals Portal, published between 1995 and 2010. Results: in the analysis, it was observed the prevalence of research on the benefits of health education provided in various performance scenarios, especially during the nursing consultation, the use of means of distance communication and other means. Conclusion: the education practice should be part of daily management starting as early as possible, in hospitals and extended after discharge, observing the increase of knowledge of the disease by the patient and the purpose of pharmacological and nonpharmacological interventions.