Nurse educator guidelines for the management of heart failure.

Heart failure is a chronic illness that poses a significant societal burden in the United States. Health care facilities are challenged to provide the most current treatment options available for patients with heart failure. Patient education focusing on self-management is recognized as essential. Nurses play a key role in the delivery of patient education. This article reviews the limited available evidence regarding nurses' knowledge of heart failure self-management principles. The key topics of symptom and weight management, dietary recommendations, medications, and activity are discussed.