Addressing current challenges to cardiac rehabilitation care.

Cardiac rehabilitation, the structured programming of exercise and risk reduction teaching and counseling to promote healthy living with heart disease, is grounded in a strong nurse-patient relationship. This relationship provides a foundation for meeting current healthcare challenges. Three challen...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:AACN Clinical Issues: Advanced Practice in Acute & Critical Care Vol. 14; no. 1; pp. 13 - 25
Main Authors: Liehr P, Leaverton R, Yepes A, Frazier L, Fuentes F
Format: tables/charts Journal Article
Published: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Feb2003
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
Description
Summary:Cardiac rehabilitation, the structured programming of exercise and risk reduction teaching and counseling to promote healthy living with heart disease, is grounded in a strong nurse-patient relationship. This relationship provides a foundation for meeting current healthcare challenges. Three challenges are presented and addressed through specific examples. The challenge of the changing cardiac rehabilitation population is addressed through the example of the heart failure patient. The challenge to create innovative programming is addressed through the example of the Therapeutic Rehabilitative Intensive Program, developed to meet the needs of people who live in communities without cardiac rehabilitation services. The challenge to measure outcomes is addressed through the example of choosing a blood pressure measurement method. In addressing each challenge, the role of the advanced practice nurse is described.