Prehospitalization Symptom Perceptions, Lay Consultations, and Treatment-Seeking for Acute Decompensating Heart Failure: Implications for Nursing Practice.

Heart failure is a common, serious condition associated with frequent exacerbations and hospitalizations. Preventable causes of more than 70% of heart failure hospitalizations are attributable to ineffective heart failure self-care, including symptom recognition and interpretation, and delayed symptom reporting and treatment seeking. The social context in which illness symptoms occur is an important aspect of symptom self-management.

Use of iPads to Decrease Faculty Workload.

Background: Multiple faculty were present during a simulation for competency assessments of students, thus creating an increased workload and fatigue. Faculty used technology to reduce the workload and maintain interrater reliability, at little to no cost.

Method: The use of high-fidelity simulators, tablet computers, and a university video platform were used to record student competency assessments.

Symptom perceptions and self-care behaviors in patients who self-manage heart failure.

Background: Patients with heart failure (HF) are at heightened risk for acute exacerbation requiring hospitalization. Although timely reporting of symptoms can expedite outpatient treatment and avoid the need for hospitalization, few patients recognize and respond to symptoms until acutely ill.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore patients' perceptions of symptoms and self-care behaviors for symptom relief, leading up to a HF hospitalization.