Carving a Niche for Australian Practice Nurses in Chronic Heart Failure Management

Abstract

Chronic and complex conditions are a significant concern within contemporary health care systems. The ageing population and improvements in survival from acute cardiac illness have seen an increasing incidence of heart failure (HF). Heart failure represents a significant burden on both the individual and the wider community. Despite effective pharmacotherapy and established evidence-based management guidelines, the overall prognosis from HR is poor. The complexity of the disease process and the highly developed evidence-base makes HR an excellent exemplar for the management of a range of chronic conditions. Studies undertaken as part of the 'Carving a niche for Australian practice nurses' project have led to the development of a model of care that integrates the role of the practice nurse with those of other health care providers to improve outcomes for people with chronic and complex conditions. Whilst the model of care developed from these studies requires empirical testing to validate its utility, it is currently being incorporated in clinical planning and ongoing pragmatic research. The systematic, sequential derivation of data from the 'Carving a niche for Australian practice nurses' project will inform the development of primary care and provide a conceptual framework for future intervention studies in Australian general practice.